LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



Chap. Copyright No. 






it 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



R Bible Tear 



A Course in Bible-Reading, 

completing the entire Bible in one year; 

with daily suggestions for meditation 

and for further study 



r 



m Bmoe 1R, Welle 




United Society of Christian Endeavor 
■ Boston and Chicago 



TWO COPIES RECEIVED, 

Library of Cetifcreejy 
Office of the 

DEC 9 - 

Register of Copyright* 



49917 

Copyrighted, 1899, 
By the United Society of Christian Endeavor 



SECOND COPY, 



J>reface* 

This little book pretends to be nothing more 
than a primer of Bible-reading. 

Actual experiment has proved the need and 
usefulness of such directions as are here given. 
For a year, week by week, these studies were 
printed in the columns of The Christian En- 
deavor World. A call was made for the names of 
all that would undertake to read the Bible through 
in accordance with this plan during the year ; and 
without advertisement or urging, more than nine 
thousand sent in their names. Hundreds and 
even thousands of these expressed themselves as 
thankful for the plan, and said that, though they 
had often proposed reading the Bible through 
and had frequently set out upon the task, this 
plan had furnished just the stimulus and aid 
needed to spur them to its completion. 

These Bible-readers were in all parts of America 
and in many foreign lands. Indeed, the course 
was translated into several foreign tongues. 

Pastors induced their churches to take up the 
work, Families read the Bible thus together, 

3 



Sunday-school teachers used the plan as an incen- 
tive to their classes for regular home Bible-read- 
ing and study. Some that had never read the 
Bible for three days in succession, completed the 
entire course. Some in their eagerness got far 
ahead, and read the Bible through twice in the 
year. 

The plan was found useful in prisons. Ministers 
of the gospel testified that even to them it had 
opened up fresh gospel truth. " The Bible has 
become a new book to me," was a frequent 
message. 

Though it was understood that the themes for 
daily meditation suggested by the daily Scripture 
reading, as well as the hints for further study, 
were entirely optional, an unexpectedly large 
number wrote me that they were adding both to 
their Bible-reading, and found in both great profit. 

These suggestions for further study, it will be 
understood, do not pretend to anything like com- 
pleteness or scholarship. They are part of a 
primer, and merely point out a great variety of 
simple researches that will throw light upon the 
Bible, and bind its portions more closely together 
in the mind. Amos R. Wells. 

Boston, November, 1899. 



M Bible Tear. 



Cbe fffrst TKHeeft. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

January 1. Gen., chapters 1, 2, 3. Creation. 

January 2. Gen., chapters 4, 5, 6, 7. Noah. 

January 3. Gen., chapters 8. 9, 10, 11. Babel. 

January 4. Gen., chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. Abra- 
ham. 

January 5. Gen., chapters 17, 18, 19. Lot. 

January 6. Gen., chapters 20, 21, 22, 23. Abraham. 

January 7. Gen., chapters 24, 25. Isaac. 

Genesis. 

The book of Genesis covers more time than all 
the rest of the Bible put together. " Genesis " 
means " beginning " ; it is a book of origins. 
The first five books of the Bible are called the 
Pentateuch, a word which means " five books. 11 
If Joshua is included, the section is called the 
Hexateuch. The Hebrew Bible names the books 
of the Pentateuch from their first words. The 
name of this book, therefore, is in Hebrew, " In 
the beginning. 11 The Pentateuch is "The Book 
of the Law, 11 or T&rah. The author of Genesis is 
Moses, who probably made use of earlier docu- 
ments, but who, under divine inspiration, bound 
them all together into an authentic history. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

January 1.— How great and good is God! 
January 2 — How hateful and terrible is sin I 
5 



JANUARY 1-7. 

January 3 .—How God rebukes human pride. 
(Babel.) 

January 4 — The greatness that comes from 

obedience. 
January 5.— The mischief of worldliness. 
January 6.— How God may be testing me. 

January 7.— The rewards of simple kindliness. 
(Rebecca at the well.) 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

January 1.— The remarkable correspondence be- 
tween the Bible order of creation and that dis- 
closed by geology. 

January 2.— How the modern races are divided 
in descent from Noah's three sons. 

January 3.— The most significant names in 
chapter 10. Look them up in the Bible diction- 
ary. 

January 4.— The geography of Abraham's jour- 
neys. 

January 5.— References, in other parts of the 
Bible, to the great covenant with Abraham. 

January 6.— Correspondences between the sacri- 
fice of Isaac and that of Christ. 

January 7.— Go over these twenty-five chapters, 
underscoring in each a significant word or 
two that may stand as the title of the chapter. 



JANUARY 8-14. 



Zbc SeconD TKHeefc* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

January 8. Gen., chapters 26, 27. Jacob and 

Esau. 
January 9. Gen., chapters 28, 39, 30. Jacob and 

Laban. 
January 10. Gen., chapters 31, 32. Jacob and 

the angel. 
January 11. Gen., chapters 33, 34, 35, 36. Jacob. 
January 12. Gen., chapters 37, 38, 39. Joseph 

sold. 
January 13. Gen., chapters 40, 41. Joseph and 

Pharaoh. 
January 14. Gen., chapters 42, 43, 44. Joseph 

and his brethren. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

January 8.— How am I my brother's keeper ? 

January 9.— God's angels are round about me. 

January 10.— Am I opposing my will to God's ? 

January 11.— Are there any whom I need to for- 
give ? 

January 12— How envy will make me a mur- 
derer at heart. 

January 13.— Do I lack wisdom ? Whence it 

comes.- 
January 14.— God controls the fortunes of men. 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

January 8.— Other significant Bible names such 
as " Jacob, the Supplanter." 

January 9.— Study the famous Bible dreams, 
making a list of them. 



JANUARY 8-14. 

January 10.— Other covenants in the Bible, com- 
pared with the Mizpah covenant. 

January 11— The pillars Jacob set up, and simi- 
lar memorials throughout the Bible. 

January 12— Are the brothers the Bible tells 
about, on the whole, to be imitated or shunned 
as examples ? 

January 13.— Compare this with the dream 
Daniel interpreted. 

January 14.— Go through the week's readings, 
underscoring in each a significant word or 
phrase that may stand as the title of the chap- 
ter. 



JANUARY 15-21. 



Zbe TLbivb TOeefc* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

January 15. Gen., chapters 45, 46, 47. Joseph's 
power. 

January 16. Gen., chapters 48, 49, 50. Jacob's 
death. 

January 17. Review. Genesis deals chiefly with 
six men. Mark in your Bible the 
place where each of these six 
biographies begins. Go over the 
book of Genesis marking the 
passages that you will wish to 
refer to most often, because they 
are most helpful. 

January 18. Exod., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4. Moses. 
Read the introduction to the book, 
given below. 

January 19. Exod., chapters 5, 6, 7, 8. Plagues. 

January 20. Exod., chapters 9, 10, 11. Plagues. 

January 21. Exod., chapters 12, 13, 14. Passover. 

Exodus. 

With this week we begin a new book. Exodus, 
crowded with Egyptian words and ideas and with 
terms taken from the wilderness journeys, could 
have been written by no one of a later time than 
Moses, its great author. Its name is taken from 
the Greek translation, the Septuagint, and means 
" the going out " (from Egypt). It is divided into 
three parts : (1) Chapters 1-18, history ; (2) 
chapters 19-24, laws ; (3) chapters 25-40, worship. 
The book paints in a masterly way the begin- 
nings of a nation. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

January 15— How am I honoring my father and 
mother? 

9 



JANUARY 15-21. 

January 16.— What kind of death-bed am I pre- 
paring for myself ? 

January 17 -How can I gain for my life Abra- 
ham's courageous faithfulness, Jacob's zeal, 
Joseph's wisdom ? 

January 18.— God has a message for me to give. 
Am I proclaiming it ? 

January 19 .—How my troubles are caused by 
my sins. 

January 20.— Am I persisting in any known sin, 
like Pharaoh ? 

January 21.— Christ my Passover. Is he really 
this to me ? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

January 15.— Look ahead, by means of a con- 
cordance, and note some of the influences of 
Egypt over the Hebrews' later history. 

January 16.— The fulfilment of the prophecies 
contained in Jacob's last words. 

January 17.— Sum up, in two or three words each, 
the characters of the six men of Genesis: 
Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph. 

January 18 .—Look up the localities mentioned 
in to-day's chapters. 

January 19.— Evidences lately found (see Bible 
dictionary) of the actual work of the Hebrews 
in Egypt. 

January 20.— Study (in Bible dictionary) the 
natural forces of which God may have made 
use in performing these miracles. 

January 21.— Go over these fourteen chapters, 
marking in each a characteristic word or two 
that may stand as the title of the chapter. 



10 



JANUARY 22-28. 



Gbe JFourtb TOleeft< 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

January 22. Exod., chapters 15, 16, 17, 18. Manna. 

January 23. Exod., chapters 19, 20, 21. Sinai. 

January 24. Exod., chapters 22, 23, 24. Laws. 

January 25. Exod., chapters 25, 26, 27. Taber- 
nacle. 

January 26. Exod., chapters 28, 29. Priesthood. 

January 27. Exod., chapters 30, 31, 32. Idolatry. 

January 28. Exod., chapters 33, 34, 35. Forgive- 
ness. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

January 22.— God will always provide for his 
children. 

January 23.— Do I keep the spirit of each of the 
Ten Commandments? 

January 24.— How I am to get up in the Mount 

with God. 
January 25.— What is my real heart attitude 

toward God's sanctuary? 
January 26.— How I, as God's priest, may bear 

the mystic sign, " Holiness to the Lord. 11 

January 27.— The gold calves before which I 
worship. 

January 28.— What offerings for his service does 
God want me to give him? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

January 22.— Read the Bible-dictionary account 
of manna. 

11 



JANUAR Y 22-28. 

January 23.— Look up Christ's teachings with re- 
gard to each of the Ten Commandments. 

January 24.— Consider how each of these laws 
was suited to the especial condition of the 
Hebrews at that time. 

January 25.— Read the Bible-dictionary account 
of the construction and contents of the Taber- 
nacle. 

January 26.— Study, in the Bible dictionary, the 
ephod, breastplate, and Urim and Thummim. 

January 27.— Investigate the question of taxes 
among the Hebrews. 

January 28— Go through the twenty-one chap- 
ters read this week, marking in each some 
characteristic word or phrase that will serve 
as a title for the chapter. 



12 



JANUAR Y 29—FEBR UAR Y 4. 



Cbe Jffftb Timeeft, 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

January 29. Exod., chapters 36, 37, 38. Taber- 
nacle. 

January 30. Exod., chapters 39, 40. Dedication. 

January 31. Review. Mark in your Bibles the 
four divisions of the book: Slavery 
(chapters 1-6); Salvation (chapters 7- 
18); Sinai (chapters 19-34); Service 
(chapters 35-40) . Run your eye over the 
book, and mark in the margin all pas- 
sages that you think likely to be of 
especial helpfulness to you in the future. 

February 1. Lev., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4. Offerings : 
burnt, meal, peace, sin. (Read the intro- 
duction to the book given below.) 

February 2. Lev., chapters 5, 6, 7. Trespass 
offerings. 

February 3. Lev., chapters 8, 9, 10. Consecra- 
tion and desecration. 

February 4. Lev., chapters 11, 12, 13. Clean and 
unclean. 

Leviticus. 

This book is so named because it is chiefly 
made up of directions for the Levites given by 
Moses, and to him by God on Mount Sinai. There 
are only three bits of narrative in the book: the 
consecration of the priests, the story of Nadab 
and Abihu, and the stoning of the blasphemer. 
The time covered is only one month. The book 
contains one priceless verse, the " second com- 
mandment" that Christ quoted. Its laws may 
seem at first without much meaning for us, but 
the more we study them, the more we are filled 
with admiration for their strong common sense; 
and when we go still deeper, we see in tftem the 

13 



JANUAR Y 29—FEBR UAR Y 4. 

most wonderful and inspiring foregleams of 
gospel truths. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

January 29.— How may I adorn God's most 

sacred temple, my own soul ? 
January 30 — Have I God's actual presence in 

my soul? If not, why not? 
January 31.— The bondage in which I am still 

held, and how I may get out of my Egypt. 
February 1.— How great are my sins! 
February 2.— Christ is my sacrifice for sin. 

What do I owe him in return? 
February 3.— Am I offering strange fire on God's 

altar? 
February 4 — Is my daily life so ordered as to 

contribute to holiness? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

January 29.— Draw for your Bible a careful plan 
of the Tabernacle, putting each article in its 
proper place. 

January 30.— In connection with the breastplate, 
it will be of interest to look up the Bible men- 
tion of precious stones. 

January 31.— Make a list of the characteristics 
of that greatest of men, Moses, as disclosed in 
this book. 

February 2.— Distinguish among these various 
offerings, (1) their purposes; (2) their manner. 

February 2.— Draw up a table of these five kinds 
of offerings, reducing the matter to its simplest 
terms. 

February 3.— Compare the case of Nadab and 
Abihu with other cases of desecration men- 
tioned in the Bible. 

February 4.— Consider the reasons for the Mosaic 
restrictions as to food, and learn their conse- 
quences in the health of the Jews. 

14 . 



FEBRUARY 5-11. 



Zhe Siitb iKHecft. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

February 5. Lev., chapters 14, 15. Leprosy. 

February 6. Lev., chapters 16, 17, 18. The scape- 
goat. 

February 7. Lev., chapters 19, 20, 21. Wise laws. 

February 8. Lev., chapters 22, 23, 24. Feasts. 

February 9. Lev., chapters 25, 26. Jubilee. 

February 10. Lev., chapter 27 and review. 
Go through the hook, marking plainly 
in your Bibles the beginning of each of 
the six divisions; namely, (1) Offerings 
(chapters 1-7) ; (2) Priesthood (chapters 
8-10); (3) Cleanliness (chapters 11-16); 
(4) Holiness (chapters 17-22) ; (5) Feasts 
(chapter 23); (6) Laws (Chapters 24-27). 
Pass rapidly over these chapters, and 
mark in the margin any passage likely 
to prove helpful to you hereafter. 

February 11. Num., chapters 1, 2. A census. 

Numbers. 

The book takes its name from the two censuses, 
the one at the beginning and the other at the end 
of the wanderings in the wilderness. The length 
of time described is thirty-eight years and three 
months. The point of closest contact with the 
New Testament is the marvellously beautiful 
episode of the brazen serpent. The book records 
many fragments of ancient poetry, such as the 
"Song of the Weir' (21:17, 18). The story of 
Numbers is one of sin and punishment, of mur- 
muring and rebuke, of presumption and post- 
ponement. It is a sad book, and yet full of hope. 

For Meditation as You Read. 
February 5.— The leprosy of sin : is it growing 

upon me ? 

15 



FEBRUARY 5-11. 

February 6 — How I may lay my sins on Christ. 
February 7. —Do I love my neighbor as myself ? 

(Lev. 19: 18.) 
February 8 —How may I make my Sabbaths 

genuine festivals of joy before God ? 
February 9 — How many of the curses of chapter 

26 do I deserve ? 
February 10— Am I giving to God as much as 

the tithe ? Should I ? 
February 11 — What place would be assigned me 

in the mustering of God's true Israel ? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

February 5.— Read the Bible-dictionary account 
of the various diseases comprehended in the 
Bible under the term, " leprosy." 

February 6.— Look back over what we have 
read, and note how often there comes up the 
idea of atonement for sin through means out- 
side the sinner. 

February 7.— Review these three chapters, con- 
sidering how many of these laws are still 
needed by the world. 

February 8.— Read the Bible-dictionary account 
of the Jewish year. 

February 9.— Write down in your Bible all the 
advantages you can think of that sprung from 
the year of jubilee. 

February 10.— It would be a most valuable ex- 
ercise to go over the whole of Leviticus, mark- 
ing in some way every provision that has been 
outgrown by the changed conditions of the 
world. Consider the spirit of each law, of 
course, rather than its formal details, and you 
will be astonished to see how little you have 
had to mark. 

February 11.— Get an idea of the size of the 
tribes by drawing squares proportioned to the 
numbers of each. Put this drawing on a blank 
page of your Bible. 

16 



FEBR UAR Y 12-18. 



Zbc Seventb Meek* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

February 12. Num., chapters 3, 4. Levites. 
February 13. Num., chapters 5, 6. Lepers and 

Nazarites. 
February 14. Num., chapters 7, 8. Princely 

offerings. 
February 15. Num., chapters 9, 10, 11. The quails. 
February 16. Num., chapters 12, 13, 14. Caleb. 
February 17. Num., chapters 15, 16. Korah. 
February 18. Num., chapters 17, 18, 19. Aaron's 

rod. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

February 12.— May God show me some practical 
way in which, like the Levites, I may minister 
in his house ! 

February 13.— How I ought to separate myself, 
like the Nazarites, to the Lord. 

February 14.— Have I really dedicated my posses- 
sions to God ? How can I do it ? 

February 15— How God has borne with my fool- 
ish complainings. 

February 16.— What land has God set before me 
for conquest ? Am I a Caleb toward this task? 

February 17.— God's terrible hatred of sin; am I 
provoking it? 

February 18— My work is dead, like Aaron's rod; 
but God can easily bring it to blossom and 
fruitage. 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

February 12.— Write in appropriate places on 
your plan of the Tabernacle the names of the 
divisions of the Levites that had charge of each 

17 



FEBRUARY 12-18. 

portion. Compare this account with modern 
ideas of the pastorate. 

February 13.— Study the fanious Nazarites of the 
Bible, making a list of them. See Bible dic- 
tionary. 

February 14.— Study the shekel, and make an 
estimate of the value of these gifts. 

February 15.— Study the references in the rest of 
the Bible to the pillar of cloud and fire. 

February 16.— Get from the Bible dictionary a 
comprehensive notion of the Holy Land at this 
time— the people that inhabited it and their 
disposition over the country. Investigate the 
reference to "giants." 

February 17 — Study the offences for which in 
Bible times the penalty of stoning was im- 
posed. 

February 18.— Study the various gifts which the 
people were commanded to give for the sup- 
port of their representatives, the Levites. Con- 
sider how well these would support them. 



18 



FEBRUARY 19-25. 



Gbe Efnbtb Weeft. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

February 19. Num., chapters 20, 21, 22. The 

brazen serpent. 
February 20. Num., chapters 23, 24, 25, 26. 

Balaam. 
February 21. Num., chapters 27, 28, 29. Joshua. 
February 22. Num., chapters 30, 31, 32. Vows 

and conquest. 
February 23. Num., chapters 33, 34, 35. Cities 

of refuge. 
February 24. Num., chapter 36, and review. 
February 25. Deut.\ chapters 1. 2. Reminiscence. 

Read the account of Deuteronomy 

given below. 

Deuteronomy. 
This great book is chiefly made up of three ad- 
dresses by Moses just before the entrance into 
the Holy Land: (1) chapters 1 to 4: 40. a rehearsal 
of God's goodness; (2) chapters 5 to 26, a review 
of the law, for the ears of this second generation; 
(3) chapters 27 to 30, a renewal of the covenant. 
It is from section 2 that the book takes its name, 
"the second law." Deuteronomy closes with 
the final scenes in the life of the great lawgiver, 
these portions being necessarily written by an- 
other hand than his. Note while reading the 
book the many striking prophecies, the passage 
that Christ quotes as the chief of all the com- 
mandments, and the three sentences with which 
Christ frustrated Satan's three temptations. 
Note, too, the grandeur of the style and the mag- 
nificence and force of the appeals. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

February 19.— A life for a look! How am I looking 
to Jesus? 

19 



FEBRUARY 19-25. 

February 20— Am I using to the full for Christ 
my power of speech? 

February 21— Moses' sin kept him from the 
Promised Land. Is any sin of mine keeping me 
from such joy? 

February 22.— What vows have I taken upon my- 
self? Am I faithful to them? 

February 23— Christ is my city of refuge. What 
need have I to flee to him? 

February 24.— My Christian inheritance: what it 
is. Am I in danger of losing it? 

February 25— Before what Anakim am I cower- 
ing? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

February 19.— Look up the references in the New 
Testament to the brazen serpent and the water 
of Meribah. 

February 20.— Find the interesting references to 
Balaam in the rest of the Bible, both Old and 
New Testaments. 

February 21— Study the thought of atonement in 
chapters 28 and 29. 

February 22.— Consider the sanitary and moral 
reasons for the stern provisions of chapter 31. 

February 23— Study with the aid of a map the 
outline of Israel's territory as given in 
chapter 34. 

February 24.— Go through the entire book, mark- 
ing the passages which have chiefly impressed 
you as worthy to be remembered. You might 
use red ink to mark those passages that point 
forward to Christ. 

February 25.— Learn from the map the geographi- 
cal position of the peoples named in these two 
chapters. 



2Q 



FEBR UAR Y 26-MARCH 4. 



Cbe mtntb meek. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 
February 26. Deut., chapters 3, 4. Obey God. 
February 27. Deut., chapters 5, 6, 7. The law of 

worship. 
February 28. Deut., chapters 8, 9, 10. A record 

of rebellion. 
March 1. Deut., chapters 11, 12, 13. The doom of 

idolaters. 
March 2. Deut., chapters 14, 15, 16. Food. The 

poor. 
March 3. Deut., chapters 17, 18, 19, 20. The com- 

ing Prophet. 
March 4. Deut., chapters 21, 22, 23. Crimes and 

criminals. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

February 26— Am I seeking God. with all my 
heart? (Deut. 4 : 29.) 

February 27.— Is my bearing what it should he 
toward those that are. not Christians? 

February 28. — By what sins have I rebelled 
against God? 

March 1.— How may I uproot idolatry from my 

life? 
March 2.— My duty to those that are poorer than 

I: am I fulfilling it? 

March 3.— Am I harkening to Christ's words? 

(See Deut. 18 : 19.) 
March 4.— How may I become more faithful to 

my religious vows? (See Deut. 23 : 21-23.) 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

February 26.— Locate on the map Pisgah and the 
cities of refuge; also look up as many more of 

21 



FEBR UAH Y 26-MAMCH 4. 

the geographical references as you have time 
for. 

February 27.— Compare the Ten Commandments 
as given here with those in Exodus. 

February 28.— Look up some of the later refer- 
ences in the Bible to the table of the law. 

March 1.— Read some account of the evils of 
idolatry in the time of Moses. 

March 2— Learn about the animals mentioned in 
chapter 14. 

March 3.— Review the other prophetical hints of 
Christ that we have come across, similar to 
that at the close of chapter 18. 

March 4 — Basing your inquiry on Deut. 23 : 19, 20, 
learn what the Bible has to say about the lend- 
ing of money. 






MARCH 5-11. 



Cbe ftentb meek. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 



, chapters 24, 25, 26. Marriage. 

Tithes. 

, chapters 27, 28. Blessings and 



March 5. Deut. 

.Mercy. 
March 6. Deut. 

cwrses. 
March 7. Deut., chapters 29, 30, 31. Keep the 

covenant. 
March 8. Deut., chapters 32, 33, 34. Moses' song, 

blessing, death. 
March 9. Review. Pass rapidly over the book, 

marking in the margin the most striking 

passages, and indicating with red those 

in any way connected with Christ. 
March 10. Josh., chapters 1,2,3. Joshua at the 

Jordan. Read the introduction to the 

book, given below. 
March 11. Josh., chapters 4, 5, 6. The fall of 

Jericho. 



Joshua, 

The book was chiefly written by Joshua, with 
additions by later historians. It introduces the 
second division of the Bible, the Historical Books. 
It describes the conquest and division of Canaan, 
the renewal of the covenant, the death of Joshua. 
Part of the book is the spirited recital of heroic 
deeds; part is occupied with most valuable geo- 
graphical information. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

March 5— I have chosen God, and He me. (Deut. 

26: 17-19.) 
March 6.— My final lot.will be blessing or cursing, 

as I deserve. 

23 



MARCH 5-11. 

March 7.— Sins of which I need to repent. 

March 8.— God's goodness; my ingratitude. 

March 9 — The majesty of God's law. What is my 
attitude toward it? 

March 10.— God's power can overcome all obsta- 
cles for His children. 

March ii.— My power lies not in my might, but in 
my obedience. 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

March 5.— Make a study of the Bible precepts 
enjoining care of the poor. 

March 6.— Find Ebal and Gerizim on the map. 
Learn what other great events occurred in that 
region. 

March 7.— Look up other references in the Old 
Testament to this "Book of the Law." (Deut. 
31:9.) 

March £.— Analyze the structure of this beautiful 
poem, and find its central purpose. 

March 9.— Consider what portions of Deuterono- 
my are commentaries and repetitions, and 
what are original additions to the law. 

March 10.— Compare this account with that of 

the passage of the Red Sea. 
March 11.— Study the position of Jericho, and the 

New Testament references to Rahab and to the 

fall of Jericho. 



34 



MARCH 12-18. 



Gbe JEleventb meek. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

March 12. Josh., chapters 7, 8, 9. The capture 
of Ai. 

March 13. Josh., chapters 10, 11, 12. The con- 
quest of kings. 

March 14. Josh., chapters 13, 14, 15. Caleb 
honored. 

March 15. Josh., chapters 16, 17, 18, 19. The land 
apportioned. 

March 16. Josh., chapters 20, 21, 22. The altar of 
testimony. 

March 17. Josh., chapters 23, 24. Joshua's last 
words. 

March 18. Review rapidly the entire book, mark- 
ing in the margin the most striking pas- 
sages. It will be well to give a title to 
each chapter. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

March 12.— My disobedience to God will defeat 
my life. 

March 13.— No power is too great for me to 

overcome with God's help. 
March 14.— God will prolong my strength only as 

I, like Caleb, use it for Him. 

March 15.— God has some rich inheritance set 
apart and waiting for me. 

March 16— No good thing (Josh. 21 : 45) that God 
promises will ever fail. 

March 11— How little of my blessings are to be 
credited to myself ! (Josh. 24 : 13.) 

85 



MARCH 12-18. 






March 18.— If I am on God's side, I cannot be 
defeated. 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

March 12.— Study the other instances given in 
the Bible where defeat followed disobedience, 
and victory followed obedience. 

March 13.— Become familiar with the proper 

names of this chapter. 
March 14.— Review the story of Caleb, marking 

with one color all passages referring to him. 

March 15.— Fix in your mind by means of the 
map the location of each of the tribes. 

March 16.— Mark plainly on the map the Levitical 
cities and the cities of refuge. 

March 1 7.— Make a study of the farewell ad- 
dresses given in the Bible. 

March 18.— Study the character of Joshua as 
disclosed in this book, and sum it up, in as few 
words as possible, in the margin of your Bible. 



20 



MARCH 19-25. 



Zbc Gwelftb meek< 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

March 19. Judg., chapters 1, 2, 3. Othniel and 
Ehud. Read the introduction to the 
book given below. 

March 20. Judg., chapters 4, 5, 6. Deborah and 
Barak. 

March 21. Judg., chapters 7, 8. Gideon. 

March 22. Judg., chapters 9, 10. Abimelech. 

March 23. Judg., chapters 11, 12, 13. Jephthah 
and Manoah. 

March 24. Judg., chapters 14, 15, 16. Samson. 

March 25. Judg., chapters 17, 18, 19. Micah. 

Judges. 

This book covers a little more than three cen- 
turies of Jewish history. Its authorship is un- 
certain; Jewish tradition ascribes it to Samuel, 
although portions belong to earlier times, and a 
few references must have been incorporated 
later. The book, with its repeated accounts of 
idolatry, punishment, and deliverance by men 
raised up by God, is full of solemn warnings. 
The story is told of thirteen of these deliverers, 
reaching from the time of Joshua to that of 
Samuel. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

March 19.— Is any stubbornness of mine (2: 19) 
provoking God's wrath? 

March 20— God will deliver my Siseras into my 
hand. 

March 21.— Would I be one of Gideon's three hun- 
dred? 

27 



MARCH 19-25. 

March 22 — Have I chosen (9: 8-15) the bramble to 
be my king? 

March 23.— How does my regard for my word 
compare with Jephthah's? 

March 24.— The enticements Satan weaves around 
me. My attitude toward them. 

March 25.— While so many are in darkness seek- 
ing the light, how am I using the full light I 
have? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

March IP.— Read what the Bible dictionary says 

about the judges. 
March 20.— Make a list of the women of the Bible 

who, like Deborah, were at the head of affairs. 

March 21.— Study the Bible references to the 

Midianites. 
March 22— Make a collection of Old Testament 

parables, such as 9: 8-15. 
March 23.— Study the various occasions in the 

Bible when angelic announcement has been 

made of the birth of a child. 

March 24.— Make a special study of the Philistines. 
March 25.— Study the references throughout the 
Bible to the tribe and the city of Dan. 



28 



MARCH 26— APRIL 1. 

Cbe Cbtrteentb TDdeefi. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

March 26. Judg., chapters 20, 21. The desola- 
tion of Benjamin. Review rapidly the 
entire book, marking the most helpful 
passages, if you have time, and giving 
a title to each chapter. 

March 27. The book of Ruth. Fidelity and 
reward. Read the introduction to the 
book, given below. 

March 28. 1 £am., chapters 1, 2, 3. A young 
prophet. Read the introduction to the 
book, given below. 

March 29. 1 Sam., chapters 4, 5, 6, 7. God's power 
attested. 

March 30. 1 Sam., chapters 8, 9, 10. Saul anointed. 

March 31. 1 Sam., chapters 11, 12, 13. Saul's 
sacrifice. 

April 1. 1 Sam., chapters 14, 15. Saul's sin. 

Ruth. 

This book is the natural connecting link be- 
tween the story of the judges and that of the 
kings. It covers ten years at the close of the 
judgeship of Eli or the beginning of that of 
Samuel. The concluding verses would imply 
that the book was written after the time of David, 
but probably not long after. Several curious and 
valuable pieces of information concerning 
Hebrew customs are given us in this book, but its 
chief importance is in its picture of David's great- 
grandmother, the gentle, noble ancestress of our 
Lord. 

First and Second Samuel. 

These books are really one, and they received 
their name manifestly not from their author, but 

29 



MARCH 26 -APRIL 1. 

because he is the principal character of the first 
portion. The work consists of three biographies 
— Samuel's, Saul's, and David's. It is not known 
when or by whom it was compiled, but the com- 
piler doubtless had access to the books of Samuel, 
Nathan, and Gad (1 Chron. 29:29), the official 
records of the kingdom, and David's personal 
memoirs. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

March 26.— I cannot sin without involving many- 
others in my sorrow. 

March 27. —Am I true to those that have the 
closest claim upon me? 

March 28.— Let me make my heart so innocent 
and obedient that God can commune with me. 

March 29 — God is a holy and jealous God. 

March 30.— Is God, or some human being or influ- 
ence, the supreme ruler of my life? 

March 31. — Whole - hearted service (chapter 
12:24). 

April l.-Am I offering to God any empty excuses 
for disobedience? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

March 26.— Go over the book of Judges, marking 
in some conspicuous way the beginning of the 
account of each judge, and placing in connec- 
tion with it a word or two indicative of his or 
her character. 

March 27— Study the rights and duties of kins- 
men among the Hebrews, especially with re- 
gard to marriage. 

March 28.— Study what is known about the organ- 
ized worship of the Hebrews at this time. 

March 29.— Study the various Bible references to 
the ark of the covenant, especially those con- 
cerning its miraculous power. 

30 



MARCH 26— APRIL 1. 

March 30 — Study the significance of anointing 
in the Bible, and its manner. 

March 31 — Study the accounts throughout the 
Old Testament of the interference of the royal 
families with the priests. 

April l.— Find the conspicuous examples in the 
Bible of the casting of lots. 



31 



APRIL 2-8. 



Gbe jfourteentb IDOleeli* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

April 2. 1 Sam., chapters 16, 17. David anointed. 

Goliath. 
April 3. 1 Sam., chapters 18, 19, 20. David and 

Jonathan. 
April 4. 1 Sam., chapters 21, 22, 23, 24. David 

in exile. 
April 5. 1 Sam., chapters 25, 26. Abigail. 
April 6. 1 Sam., chapters 27, 28, 29, 30. The 

witch of En-dor. 
April 7. 1 Sam., chapter 31. 2 Sam., chapters 1, 

2. Saul's death. David king. 
April 8. 2 Sam., chapters 3, 4, 5. Jerusalem 

captured. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

April 2.— Have I yielded my weakness to God, 
that he may do with it what he will? 

April 3.— What more should I do for my friends 
than I am doing? 

April 4.— Am I showing a Christian spirit to my 
enemies? 

April 5.— Do I cherish toward any one such jeal- 
ousy as Saul showed ? 

April 6.— Let me seek God instinctively in all 
trouble, and not seek such guidance as Saul 
sought. 

April 7.— God always rewards his faithful ser- 
vants. 

April 8.—1 can never get real advantage from the 
evil deed of another man. 

For Further Study if You Have Time. 

April 2.— Study what the Bible has to say about 
giants. 

32 



APRIL 2-8. 

April 3— Make a list of the conspicuous friend- 
ships of which the Bible gives accounts. 

April 4.— Draw an outline map showing, as nearly 
as you can, where David lived during those 
years of exile. 

April 5.— Compare the story of David and Abigail 
with the love stories of other great men whose 
lives we have already studied. 

April 6.— Make a study of the Bible references to 
sorcery, witchery, magic. 

April 7— Suicide in the Bible, and the Bible view 
of the crime. 

April 8.— Study the history of the Jebusites and 
of Jerusalem up to this time. 



APRIL 9-15. 



Gbe JFifteentb Weeft, 

* 

Sections for Daily Reading:. 

April 9. 2 Sam., chapters 6, 7, 8, 9. The ark 
restored. 

April 10. 2 Sam., chapters 10, 11, 12. David's 
great sin. 

April 11. 2 Sam., chapters 13, 14. Absalom's 
exile. 

April 12. 2 Sam., chapters 15, 16, 17. Absalom's 
conspiracy. 

April 13. 2 Sam., chapters 18, 19. Absalom's 
death. 

April 14. 2 Sam., chapters 20, 21, 22. Thanks- 
giving. 

April 15. 2 Sam., chapters 23, 24. David's deeds. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

April P.— Not all good deeds are good for me to 
do. Let God direct me. 

April 10— Is my heart pure? 

April 11— My duty toward those that are es- 
tranged from each other. 

April 12.— My desire for men's good opinion: is it 
an unselfish desire? 

April 13.— Selfishness is never safe. 

April 14— God is the cause and source of all my 
blessings. 

April 15.— God is my everlasting covenant (chap- 
ter 23: 5). 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

April 9— Write in a few sentences the history of 
the ark up to this time. 

34 



APRIL 9-15. 

April 10.— Compare the morality of Hebrew rulers 
with that of the rulers of other ancient nations. 

April 11— Bring together other instances in which 
rulers have been persuaded by such interviews 
as the woman of Tekoah's. 

April 12.^ Study ancient Hebrew methods of 
administering justice. 

April 13.— Make a study of the bad sons of whom 

the Bible gives an account. 
April 14.— Investigate the officers mentioned in 

chapter 20 : 23-26. What were their duties? 
April 15.— The census among the Hebrews : what 

it meant, and why David was punished for his. 



APRIL 16-22. 



Cbe Sixteenth TKIleeft* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

April 16. Review. Pass rapidly over the books 

of Samuel, giving titles to the various 

chapters, and marking the passages you 

have found most helpful. 
April 17. 1 Kings, chapters 1, 2. Adonijah and 

Solomon. Read the introduction to the 

hook, given below. 
April 18. 1 Kings, chapters 3, 4, 5. Solomon's 

choice. 
April 19. 1 Kings, chapters 6, 7. Solomon's 

temple. 
April 20. 1 Kings, chapter 8. The dedication. 
April 21. 1 Kings, chapters 9, 10, 11. The Queen 

of Sheba. 
April 22. 1 Kings, chapters 12, 13. The Great 

Division. 

The Two Books of Kings. 

The Hebrews originally treated these two books 
as one, and it was not until the Greek translation, 
called the Septuagint, was made, that it was 
broken up into two books. The author refers to 
"The Acts of Solomon," and often to two other 
works, the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah and 
of Israel. None of these sources of information 
have survived. The tradition of the Jews is that 
the books of Kings were written by Jeremiah, and 
certain portions bear remarkable resemblance to 
his writings; but much of the books is so vivid 
that Jeremiah, if he was indeed the compiler, 
must have used accounts contemporary with the 
events. 

For Meditation as You Read. 
April 16.— How happy would David's life have 

been, but for his sin ! Is it not so with mine? 






APRIL 16-22. 

April 17.— Self-pushing always comes to grief. 

Am I guilty of it, in thought or act? 
April 18.— The choices God has offered me, and my 

selection. 
April 19.— Am I contributing as I should to the 

building of the temple in which God now dwells 

—his church? 
April 20.-B.8ive I the feeling with regard to 

prayer expressed by Solomon in his great 

prayer? 
April 21.-H.2Lve I such earnestness in the pursuit 

of wisdom as the Queen of Sheba showed? 
April 22.— The infinite consequences that will 

follow any sinful deed of mine. 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

April 16.— Study David's character, and discover 
why Christ is so often spoken of as " the Son of 
David," rather than " of Abraham." 

April 17.— Make a study of Zadok, as an indica- 
tion of the position held by the priesthood in 
those days. 

April 18.— Find out from the Bible dictionary 
what is known about Solomon from other sources 
than the Bible. 

April 19.— Bead in the Bible dictionary the ac- 
count of the successive temples, and the com- 
parison between them. 

April 20.— Compare for an instructive contrast this 
prayer of Solomon's with Christ's in John 17. 

April 21.— Find out what you can about the region 
from which the Queen of Sheba came. 

April 22.— Prepare an outline map of the divided 
kingdom. Place in the lower portion, as we 
come to them, the names of the successive kings 
of Judah, and in the upper portion the names of 
Israel's kings. 



37 



APRIL 23-29. 



Gbe Seventeenth TlHleeft* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

April 23. 1 Kings, chapters 14, 15, 16. Jeroboam. 
Asa. Ahab. 

April 24. 1 Kings, chapters 17, 18. Elijah on 
Carmel. 

April 25. l Kings, chapters 19, 20, 21. Elijah at 
Horeb. Naboth. 

April 26. l Kings, chapter 22. 2 Kings, chapter 1. 
Elijah and Ahaziah. 

April 27. 2 Kings, chapters 2, 3, 4. Elijah's trans- 
lation. Elisha. 

April 28. 2 Kings, chapters 5, 6, 7. Elisha 's deeds. 

April 29. 2 Kings, chapters 8, 9. Jehu and Jezebel. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

April 23.— Perfect heart, imperfect action (chap- 
ter 15: 14). 

April 24.— Let me fear nothing, if only God is on 
my side. 

April 25.— How great a revelation of God may I 
hope to receive? 

April 26.— Am I seeking, like Ahaziah, to resist 
God's providences? 

April 27.— Am I in the line of succession of any 

prophet? If not, why not? 
April 28.— How I can get rid of the leprosy of sin. 
April 29.— No kindness, such as the Shunam- 

mite's, ever goes unrewarded. 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

April 23.— Study what is meant by "the high 
places." Learn what you can about the city of 
Samaria. 

38 



APRIL 23-29. 

April 24.— Learn what you can about the topogra- 
phy of Mount Carmel. 

April 25.— Study in connection with the story of 
Naboth the tenure of land among the Hebrews. 

April 26.— Study the Bible references to Tarshish 
(1 Kings 22: 48) and all that region. 

April 27.— Learn what you can about the schools 
of the prophets. 

April 28.— Compare the account of the wonders 
wrought by Elisha with those wrought by Elijah. 

April 29.— Gather together into one mental picture 
the scattered hints of Jezebel's character. 



APRIL 30 -MAY 6. 



jEigbteentb TOeeft. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

April 30. 2 Kings, chapters 10, 11, 12. Joash. 
May 1. 2 Kings, chapters 13, 14, 15. Joash and 

Elisha. 
May 2. 2 Kings, chapters 16, 17. Ahaz. Samaria 

falls. 
May 3. 2 Kings, chapters 18, 19. Hezekiah and 

Isaiah. 
May 4. 2 Kings, chapters 20, 21, 22. Manasseh. 

Josiah. 
May 5. 2 Kings, chapters 23, 24, 25. Jerusalem 

falls. 
May 6. Keview First and Second Kings, passing 

rapidly over the chapters, giving titles 

to them, or marking the passages that 

seem most helpful, or both. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

April 30.— I should have the same care for God's 

house that Joash had. 
May 2.— Lack of earnestness was the ruin of 

Joash, king of Israel. It may he mine. 

May 2.— Am I like Ahaz, using the things of God 
for my own self-willed pleasures? 

May 3.— Such trusf as Hezekiah' s will always 

meet a reward as great. 
May 4.— How thankful I should be that I have 

the Bible! 

May 5.— Jerusalem fell because of disobedience. 

Such may be my fate. 
May 6.— How surely God has proved himself the 

Punisher of the wrongdoer and the Eewarder 

of the righteous! 

40 



APRIL 30— MAY 6. 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

April 30.— Investigate the Bible examples of the 
right way to raise money for sacred causes. 

May 1.— Study the history of Syria during the time 
of the kings. 

May 2.— Study the history of Assyria during the 
time of the kings. 

May 3.— Compare with the deliverance from Sen- 
nacherib other similar deliverances recorded in 
the Bible. 

May 4.— Study in connection with Josiah's life the 
hints given in the Old Testament of the position 
of the Bible among the Hebrews. 

May 5.— Study the way captives were treated in 
ancient times. 

May 6.— Draw in your Bible two parallel uprights, 
one for the northern and the other for the south- 
ern kingdom. Set off upon each, spaces pro- 
portioned to the length of the reign of each king. 



41 



MAY 7-13. 



mtneteentb Weeft, 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

May 7. 1 Chron., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Gene- 
alogy. Read the introduction to the 
hook, given helow. 

May 8. 1 Chron., chapters 7, 8, 9, 10. SauVs death. 

May 9. 1 Chron., chapters 11, 12, 13. David. The 
ark. 

May 10. 1 Chron., chapters 14, 15, 16, 17. David 
and the temple. 

May 11. 1 Chron., chapters 18, 19, 20, 21. David's 
wars. 

May 12. 1 Chron., chapters 22, 23, 24, 25. The 
service of God. 

May 13. 1 Chron., chapters 26, 27, 28, 29. David's 
last words. 

The Books of the Chronicles. 

The title of the hooks is taken from the Hebrew, 
the title in the Septuagint being " The Things 
Omitted," implying that the books are intended 
to supply what was left out of the books of Samuel 
and the Kings. In the course of the books twelve 
other histories are named as the author's sources 
of information. This author may have been Ezra 
—a supposition made probable by the fact that the 
closing passage of 2 Chronicles is identical with 
the opening passage of Ezra. There are four 
divisions of the books: genealogies, and the his- 
tories of David, Solomon, and the remaining kings 
of Judah. Everywhere a knowledge of the pre- 
ceding books of the Bible is taken for granted, 
and many new and important facts are given. 
Scarcely anything is said about the northern king- 
dom, or about the sinful acts of David and 
Solomon. The great number of genealogies is 
accounted for by the need of such records that 

42 



MAY 7-13. 

would be felt after the exile, when the land came 
to be assigned to its hereditary owners, and the 
temple service to he taken up by those whose 
hereditary duty it was. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

May 7.— Is my name in the great muster-roll of 

the children of the promise? 
May 8.— Saul " died for his transgression " ; what 

fate do I deserve? 
May 9.— Have I any presumptuous fear for the 

cause of God? 
May 10.— How much of David's psalm of thanks- 
giving (16: 7-36) can I make my own? 
May 11.— I have sinned; let me imitate David's 

repentance. 
May 12.— My duty to provide in advance for the 

needs of God's cause. 
May 13.— Let me imitate David's humility, shown 

by his willingness that another should build the 

temple. 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

May 7.— Indicate by marking where the various 

genealogies begin, and underscore the names of 

all persons you know about already. 
May 8.— Compare chapter 10 with the last chapter 

of 1 Samuel. 
May 9— Compare with the corresponding portions 

of Samuel; especially compare chapter 13 with 

2 Sam. 6. 
May 10.— Compare chapters 15, 16, with 2 Sam. 6, 

and chapter 17 with 2 Sam. 7. 
May 11.— Compare these chapters with 2 Sam. 8, 

10, 11, 24. 
May 12.— Compare David's last words to Solomon 

as given here and in l Kings 2. 
May 13.— Bead in the Bible dictionary the account 

of the organization of the temple service in the 

days of David. 

43 






MAY 14-20. 



TLbe Gwenttetb TKHeeft* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

May 14. 2 Chron., chapters l, 2, 3, 4, 5. Solomon's 

choice. The temple. 
May 15. 2 Chron., chapters 6, 7, 8. The temple 

dedicated. 
May 16. 2 Chron., chapters 9, 10, 11, 12. The 

great schism. 
May 17. 2 Chron., chapters 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. Asa's 

good reign. 
May 18. 2 Chron., chapters 18, 19, 20. Jehosha- 

phat. 
May 19. 2 Chron., chapters 21, 22, 23, 24. Jehu. 

Joash. 
May 20. 2 Chron., chapters 25, 26, 27, 28. Uzziah. 

Ahaz. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

May 14— What is the real choice of my heart ? 

May 15.— What is God's house to me ? 

May 16.— How can I he sure always to act for the 

best? 
May 17— Can I stand the test of 2 Chron. 14: 2 ? 

May 18.— What are the enemies that God will 
overthrow before me as he overthrew Jehosha- 
phat's before him ? 

May 19.— Do not my sins deserve such condemna- 
tion as came to Jehoram (chapter 21) ? 

May 20.— The " lifting up of heart " which is "to 
destruction " (2 Chron. 26: 16) ; what is it ? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

May 14.— Compare these chapters with 1 Kings, 
chapters 3, 5, 6, 7. 

44 



MA Y 14-20, 

May 15.— Compare this account of the dedication 
with that in l Kings 8, and compare chapter 7 
with 1 Kings 9. 

May 16.— Compare these chapters with 1 Kings, 
chapters 10-14. 

May 17.— Compare the account of Asa's reign in 

1 Kings 15. 
May 18— Compare the account of the reign of 

Jehoshaphat found in 1 Kings 15 and 22. 

May 19 — Compare the account of the reign of 
Joash in 2 Kings 11, 12. 

May 20 —Compare the parallel passages: 2 Kings 

14, 15, 16. 



45 



MAY 21-27. 



Gbe Gwent^ffret THlceft* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

May 21. 2 Chron., chapters 29, 30, 31. Hezekiah 
the good. 

May 22. 2 Chron., chapters 32, 33, 34. Sennach- 
erib. Manasseh. 

May 23. 2 Chron., chapters 35, 36. Josiah. The 
fall of Jerusalem. Eeview First and 
Second Chronicles, giving titles to the 
chapters, and marking the most impor- 
tant passages. 

May 24. Ezra, chapters 1, 2, 3, 4. The return. 
Read the introduction to the book, given 
below. 

May 25. Ezra, chapters 5, 6, 7. The temple. Ezra. 

May 26. Ezra, chapters 8, 9, 10. Ezra's reform. 

May 27. Neh., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4. Nehemiah* s 
return. Read the introduction to the 
book, given below. 

Ezra and Nehemiah. 

From the fact that part of the book of Ezra is 
written in the first person, it is thought that Ezra 
himself wrote it. Others think that both this book 
and Nehemiah were written by others, but con- 
tain extracts from the first-hand accounts of the 
two leaders. In ancient times the two books were 
united, and in the Vulgate they are called First 
and Second Esdras. They are written in Hebrew, 
with the exception of certain letters and other 
quoted documents in Ezra, which are kept in the 
original Aramaic, or Chaldee. Ezra covers 
seventy-nine years, and Nehemiah, after an inter- 
val of about twelve years, continues the story/ 

46 



MAT 21-27. 
For Meditation as You Read. 

May 21—" Kose early " (2 Chron. 29: 20) : has this 
oft-recurring phrase a lesson for me? 

May 22.— How far is Manasseh's life a warning to 
me? 

May 23.— How am I to get the most good from the 
Bible? 

May 24.— The evil effects of sin, even after for- 
giveness and a return to God. 

May 25.— The secret of Ezra's success. (Ezra 7 : 10.) 
May 26.— Am I caring enough for the honor of my 

Christian confession (Ezra 8: 22) ? 
May 27.— Is my religion sturdy and aggressive? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

May 21— Study the Passovers that are noted in 
Hebrew history. 

May 22.— Study the conspicuous instances of re- 
pentance found in the Bible. 

May 23.— Compare Chronicles with Kings, and 
obtain a clear idea of the characteristic differ- 
ences of the books. 

May 24.— Learn what you can about this temple 
of Zerubbabel's. 

May 25.— Study the account in secular history of 
the reign of Artaxerxes. 

May 26.— Study the accounts of evils that came to 
the Jews throughout their history on account of 
intermarriage with the heathen around them. 

May 27.— Locate, as far as you can, the various 
portions of the wall here named. 



47 



MAY 28— JUNE 3. 



Gbe GwentE=secon& TMleeft* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

May 28. Nell., chapters 5, 6, 7, 8. The wall 
rebuilt. 

May 29. Nell., chapters 9, 10, 11. The solemn 
fast. 

May 30. Neh., chapters 12, 13. Esther, chapter 
1. Vashti. Bead the introduction to the 
hook, given below. 

May 31. Esther, chapters 2, 3, 4, 5. HamarCs 
revenge. 

June 1. Esther, chapters 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Haman's 
downfall. Review. Pass rapidly over 
the hooks of Ezra, Neheiniah, and 
Esther, marking the most helpful pas- 
sages. 

June 2. Job, chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Job tested. 
Read the introduction to the book, given 
below. 

June 3. Job, chapters 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Bildad and 
Job. 

Esther. 

It is not known who wrote this book. Some 
think it was Ezra; others, Mordecai. The lan- 
guage is Hebrew. It is one of the few books of 
the Bible that does not contain the name of God ; 
possibly, as has been suggested, because it was 
intended for reading in Jewish houses on feast 
days, and the omission of the divine name on such 
occasions was thought more seemly. Ahasuerus 
is believed to have been Xerxes, and the feasts 
mentioned in the opening of the book may have 
been preliminary to his great expedition into 

Greece. 

Job. 

Here we enter upon the poetical books, the 
48 



MA T 28— JUNE 3. 

Hebrew books of devotion. It is not known when 
Job was written, or by whom. Some say Moses. 
Others conjecture Solomon, Job himself, one of 
the prophets. The customs portrayed and the 
absence of references to later history point to the 
time of the patriarchs as the date of the book. 
Some identify Job with the Jobab of Gen. 10 : 29 ; 
others with the Jobab of Gen. 36 : 33. The lan- 
guage is Hebrew, with many approaches to the 
Arabic. The land of Uz is probably the northeast 
of Arabia. Ezekiel and St. James speak of Job 
as a historical personage. The poem itself is a 
noble discussion of the reasons for suffering. In 
speeches regularly recurring, each answered in 
turn by Job, the three friends of the patriarch 
urge that the cause of all suffering is sin. Elihu 
argues that all sorrow is certainly for the good of 
the sufferer, and at length God himself speaks, 
and Job becomes submissive and repentant. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

May 28.— How noble it is to persevere in work 
undertaken for God ! 

May 29.— What gain have I from taking part in 

the assemblies of God's people? 
May 30.— Am I keeping the Sabbath in the way 

God approves? 

May 31.— What great evils may spring from the 
sin of envy! 

June J.— God always brings about the final down- 
fall of evil. 

June 2.— All my sorrows are permitted for a pur- 
pose. 
June 3.— The speedy approach of death (chapter 7) . 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

May 28— The Bible view of usury and the taking 
of interest. 



MAY 28-JVNE 3. 

May 29 — Public reading of the law, and the part 
it plays throughout the Bible. 

May 30.— Evidences throughout the Scriptures of 
the value of the Sabbath in national life. 

May 31.— Make a study of the customs of Oriental 
courts in those days. 

June 1.— Eeview Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, and 
discover what is the most prominent addition 
each makes to the truths taught by the Bible. 

June 2.— Compare the style of this prose intro- 
duction with the style of the Pentateuch. 

June 3.— Analyze briefly in the margin the argu- 
ment of Eliphas, the response of Job, and so on 
throughout the poem. 



50 



JUNE 4-10. 



Gbe GwentiMbirD TKHeeft* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

June 4. Job, chapters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Zophar 
and Eliphaz. 

June 5. Job, chapters 16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Bildad 
and Zophar. 

June 6. Job, chapters 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. Eliphaz 
and Bildad. 

June 7. Job, chapters 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. Job's 
defence. 

June 8. Job, chapters 32, 33, 34, 35, 36. Elihu's 
argument. 

June 9. Job, chapters 37, 38, 39, 40. Jehovah in 
the whirlwind. 

June 10. Job, chapters 41, 42. The conclusion of 
the drama. Beview. Try to summarize, 
in as few words as possible, the teach- 
ings of the book. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

June 4.— How great is God ! (11 : 7-9.) 
June 5.— Is Job's confidence mine ? (19 : 25-27.) 
June 6.— Oh, to find God ! (23 : 3-10.) 
June 7.— Have I truly sought wisdom? (28: 28.) 
June 8.— God always does right. (34: 10.) 
June 9.— What am I, to question God's judgment? 
June 10— O God, show me thyself, and show me 
myself in the light of thy purity! (42 : 1-6.) 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

June 4— Go over the first fourteen chapters and 
underscore the sentences that have become pro- 
verbial. 

51 



JUNE 4-10. 

June 5.— What thought of the hereafter is con- 
tained in these first twenty chapters of Job? 

June 6.— The tokens in the first half of Job that 
the book was written in patriarchal days. 

June 7.— Go over the second fourteen chapters 
and underscore the sentences that have become 
proverbial. 

June 8.— Make a study of the character of Elihu, 
as distinguished from the other three friends of 
Job. 

June P.— Seek out in the last half of the book the 
evidences that it was written during patriarchal 
times. 

June 10.— Go over the third fourteen chapters and 
underscore the sentences that have become pro- 
verbial. 



52 



JUNE 11-17. 



£be awent£s=fourtb TDOlccft* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

June 11. Psalms 1-9. The blessings of godliness, 
etc. (Titles are given for only the first 
psalm read each day.) Kead the intro- 
duction to the hook, given below. 

June 12. Psalms 10-17. The wicked punished, etc. 

June 13. Psalms 18-22. God the preserver, etc. 

June 14. Psalms 23-30. The shepherd psalm, etc. 

June 15. Psalms 31-35. God my trust, etc. 

June 16. Psalms 36-41. God's loving kindness, etc. 

June 17. Psalms 42-49. The hart psalm, etc. 
The Psalms. 

The Psalms were written at different dates, 
from Moses to the close of the captivity— a thou- 
sand years. One psalm is attributed to Moses, 
seventy-three to David, two to Solomon, twelve to 
Asaph (one of David's musicians), eleven to the 
sons of Korah, and one each to Hemanand Ethan. 
Thirteen titles tell on what occasion the psalm 
was written. Many titles contain musical terms 
and directions. A number of most precious psalms 
are prophetic of Christ, and are so used in the 
New Testament. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

June 11.— The Lord sustains me (Ps. 3:5). 
June 12.— God sees all my doings (Ps. 11: 4). 
June 13. — No danger is strong against God 

(Ps. 18:2). 
June 14.— Is my heart pure ? (Ps. 24 : 3-6.) 
June 15.— Is there a sin that I should confess? 

(Ps.32:l-6.) 

53 



JUNE 11-17. 

June 16.— The joy of patient waiting (Ps. 40: 1). 
June 17.— My foolish fears (Ps. 46: 1-3). 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

June 11.— Review the life of David in first and 
second Samuel and first Chronicles, and en- 
deavor to fix upon some occasion in his life when 
each psalm attributed to him might have been 
written, as you come to it. 

June 12.— Learn the meaning of the musical terms 
used in the titles of the psalms (see Revised 
Version). 

June 13.— Study in connection with Psalms 18 and 
20 the other " royal psalms " : 2, 45, 61, 72, 110. 

June 14.— Read the account of the dedication of 
the Temple to get the setting of Psalm 30. 

June 15.— Compare with Psalm 35 the other "im- 
precatory psalms " : 7, 69, and 109. How do you 
explain their presence in the Bible? 

June 16.— Compare with Psalm 41 the other " pas- 
sion psalms " : 22, 35, 55, 69, 109. 

June 17.— Review these forty-nine psalms, and 
give each a distinctive title. 



54 



JUNE 18-24. 



Cbe Gwent^Wtb Meek. 



June 18. 
June 19. 
June 20 
June 21. 
June 22. 
June 23. 
June 24. 



Sections for 

Psalms 50-57. 
Psalms 58-66. 
Psalms 67-71. 
Psalms 72-77. 
Psalms 78-80. 
Psalms 81-88. 
Psalms 89-92. 



Daily Reading. 

The majesty of God, etc. 
A psalm of rewards, etc. 
The psalm of shining, etc. 
The coming Messiah, etc. 
God in history, etc. 
The trumpet psalm, etc. 
A psalm of mercy, etc. 



For Meditation as You Read. 

June 18. — Let me keep watch over my tongue 

(PS. 52:1-5). 
June 19.— Am I in the shelter? (Ps. 61 : 1-4.) 

June 20.— How far is my mouth ''filled with thy 
praise"? (Ps. 71:8.) 

June 21.— Have I any foolish envy of evil men 
when they prosper? (Ps. 73.) 

June 22.— What is my only safety? (Ps. 80 : 7.) 
June 23— Do I long for God's house ? (Ps. 84.) 
June 24— My life should be one of constant 
thanksgiving (Ps. 92). 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

June 18. — Especially in connection with these 

psalms, study the portions of David's life to 

which they apply. 
June 19.— "The chief musician "—study what is 

known about the way in which these psalms 

were probably suug. 
June 20.— Read in connection with Psalm 68 the 

account of the removal of the ark. 



55 



JUNE 18-24. 

June 21.— Consider how Psalm 72 applies to Christ. 
June 22.— Study Asaph, and the sons of Koran. 
June 23.— Compare with Psalm 84 the psalms of 
similar theme : 42, 43, 63. 

June 24.— Compare with Psalm 90 the other psalms 
on the brevity of human life : 39, 49. Give titles 
to the psalms read this week. 



56 



JUNE 25— JUL Y 1. 



Gbe Gwent^sfetb TOeefc* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

June 25. Psalms 93-101. The throne psalm, etc. 
June 26. Psalms 102-105. God hears prayer, etc. 
June 27. Psalms 106-109. Apsalm of rebellion, etc. 
June 28. Psalms 110-118. The Melchizedek psalm, 

etc. 
June 29. Psalm 119. The psalm of the law. 
June 30. Psalms 120-134. Psalms of ascent. 
July 1. Psalms 135-141. Empty idols, etc. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

June 25.— How kind is God's chastisement ! (Ps. 
94 : 12.) 

June 26.— How may I bear in mind God's kind- 
ness ? (PS. 103 : 2.) 

June 27.— The great advantage of a heart fixed 
upon divine things (Ps. i08 : 1) . 

June 28— How to get light on dark problems 

(Ps. 112:4). 
June 29.— The duty of testifying (Ps. 119 : 27). 
June 30.— My false help and the true (Ps. 121) . 
July 1.— What is it to praise "with the whole 

heart"? (Ps. 138: 1.) 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

June 25.— In connection with Psalm 100 (possibly 
used when the thank-offerings were received) 
study the use of the psalms in temple worship. 

June 26.— Compare with Psalm 105 the other his- 
torical psalms, 78 and 106. 

57 



JUNE 25— JULY 1. 

June 27.— Study the five Hebrew divisions of the 

psalms, ending, each of them, with a doxology. 

(Psalms 41, 72, 89, 106, 150.) 
June 28.— Psalms 110 and 118 are the last of the 

Messianic psalms; study them. 
June 29.— Head the account of the return from 

the captivity, on which occasion this was sung. 

Study the alphabetic character of the psalm, 

and learn about the other acrostic psalms. 
June 30.— Find out the meaning of the term " song 

of ascents," or "of degrees." 
July 1.— Give titles to the psalms read this week 






JULY 2-8. 



Zbe Gwent^seventb meek. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

July 2. Psalms 142-150. The cave psalm, etc. 

July 3. Review the psalms, marking in some way 
those that seem most helpful. 

July 4. Prov., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The beauty 
of wisdom. Read the introduction to 
the hook, given below. 

July 5. Prov., chapters 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Seven hateful 
things, etc. 

July 6. Prov., chapters 11, 12, 13, 14. A false 
balance, etc. 

July 7. Prov., chapters 15, . 16, 17, 18. A soft 
answer, etc. 

July 8. Prov., chapters 19, 20, 21, 22 ; 23. Rich and 
poor, etc. 

The Proverbs. 

This collection of rules for the conduct of life is 
said to he Solomon's because he wrote most of 
them, just as the Psalms are said to he David's. 
The portions most certainly Solomon's are chap- 
ters 10-22. Chapters 25-29 are said to he his, hut 
copied out by Hezekiah's wise men. Others are 
attributed to Agur and King Lemuel. The first 
six chapters form a connected discourse on wis- 
dom, and the last chapter, vs. 10-31, is an acrostic 
poem. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

July 2.—1 should fill my whole life with thanks- 
giving. 

July 3 — How I may make myself fit to join in the 
psalms of heaven. 

59 



JULY 2-8. 

July 4.— Have I made "the beginning of wis- 
dom?" (Prow 1:17.) 

July 5.— Do I possess any of the things that the 
Lord hates (Prov. 6: 16-19) ? 

July 6.— Have I the pride that brings shame 
(Prov. 11 : 2) ? 

July 7.— How can I overcome the habit of worry- 
ing? (Prov. 15: 13.) 

July 8.— How can I answer the question of Prov. 
20:9? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

July 2.— Study in connection with Psalm 142 the 
other psalms that refer to Saul's persecution of 
David, 7, 34, 52, 54, 56, 57, 59. 

July 3.— Make a classification of the psalms, 
grouping them under these heads: instruction; 
devotional (sub-classes: prayer, praise, thanks- 
giving) ; prophetical ; historical. 

July 4 — Analyze in as few words as possible this 
description of wisdom. 

July 5.— Mark in the chapters already read, and 
in the following chapters as we come to them, 
all the proverbs that have to do with poverty or 
riches, using " W " (wealth). 

July 6.— Mark in the same way the proverbs of 
honesty with an " H." 

July 7.— Mark with an " S " the proverbs that re- 
late to speech. 

July 8.— Mark with an "I" the proverbs that 
teach industry. 



60 



JULY 9-15. 



Zbe Zwenty*ei$btb Week. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

July 9. Prov., chapters 24, 25, 26, 27. Envy, etc. 

July 10. Prov., chapters 28, 29, 30, 31. The 
wicked flee, etc. 

July 11. Eccl., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. T/ie trial 
of the world. Read the introduction to 
the book, given below. 

July 12. Eccl., chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. The 
verdict on the world. 

July 13. Solomon's Song. Read the introduction 
to the book, given below. 

July 14. Review Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and 
Solomon's Song. Mark in each book the 
passages that you think most beautiful. 

July 15. Isa., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The Jerusalem 
vision. Read the introduction to the 
book, given below. 

Ecclesiastes. 

It was formerly thought that Solomon wrote 
this book in his old age, and to express his peni- 
tence. Many scholars now hold that the language, 
style, and contents of the book point rather to a 
period after the return from captivity. The book 
is a review of the principal employments in which 
men are likely to engage, with the conclusion that 
a godly life is vastly preferable to them all. 

The Song of Songs. 

Some hold this poem to have been written by 
Solomon as a marriage ode, and think its lan- 
guage typifies the union of Christ to his bride, the 

61 



JULY 9-15. 

Church. Others think that the poem is an expres- 
sion of the desire for national unity between 
Judah, represented by Shelomoh, the groom, and 
the ten tribes, represented by the bride Shulam- 
mith (the feminine form of Solomon). Read the 
poem in the Revised Version, which marks by 
paragraphs the alternation of the dialogue be- 
tween the man and his lover. 

Isaiah. 

This, the first of the prophetical books, is one of 
the most marvellous books ever written. Isaiah 
prophesied in Judea during four reigns, from 
B. C. 750 to B. C. 695— about 55 years. His times 
were times of great spiritual laxity, dark with 
threatened dangers. Nevertheless, he is called 
"the evangelical prophet," because he foretold 
so grandly the coming of better days. A rough 
outline of the prophecies will be helpful: chapters 
1-6, Israel's sins; 7-12, "the book of Immanuel"; 
13-23, prophecies against the nations; 24-35, the 
coming overthrow of evil; 36-39, Hezekiah's 
triumph ; 40-48, God and idols ; 49-58, the coming 
Messiah; 59-66, a new heaven and a new earth. 



For Meditation as You Read. 

July 9.— What is my feeling toward my enemies? 

(Prov. 24:17.) 
July 10.— Do I need to confess before men any 

sin? (Prov. 28:13.) 
July 11— The life that is vanity of vanities: have 

I chosen it? 
July 12— The coming judgment (Eccl. 12: 14). 
July 13.— My love to Christ: how does it compare 

with my human affections? 
July 14.— The secret of Solomon's wisdom. 

62 



JULY 9-15. 

July 15.— Is the prophecy of chapter 1 : 18 true of 
me? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

July 9— Mark with an F the paragraphs that deal 
with friendship. 

July 10— Mark with a T the paragraphs through- 
out the book that teach temperance. 

July 11.— Mark in the various chapters through- 
out the book the places where each new occu- 
pation is taken up and discussed. 

July 12.— Go through the book trying to distinguish 
the references that would seem appropriate for 
Solomon from those that would seem inappro- 
priate. 

July 13.— With the help of a commentary divide 
the poem, assigning the various passages to the 
proper speakers. 

July 14.— Classify the remaining proverbs that 
have not come under the six heads already 
given. 

July 15.— Kead in Kings and Chronicles the ac- 
counts of the reigns of the four kings under 
whom Isaiah lived. 



63 



JULY 16-22. 



Sections lor Daily Reading. 

July 16. Isa., chapters 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Isaiah and 
Ahaz. 

July 17. Isa., chapters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. The 
Branch. Babylon. Moab. 

July 18. Isa., chapters 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22. Damas- 
cus. Ethiopia. Egypt. Edom. 

July 19. Isa., chapters 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. Tyre. 
Samaria. 

July 20. Isa., chapters 29, 30, 31, 32, 33. Woes. 

July 21. Isa., chapters 34, 35, 36, 37, 38. Sennach- 
erib's invasion. 

July 22. Isa., chapters 39, 40, 41, 42, 43. Comfort 
ye, my people. 



For Meditation as You Read. 

July 16.—" Here am I ; send me" (6:8). 

July 17.— What Christ has done for the world 
(chapter 11). 

July 18.— God is my confidence (22: 23). 

Juhj 19.— What God's Word should be to me 
(28:10). 

July 20.— God's joyful people (29: 19). 

July 21.— The future God wants me to have (chap- 
ter 35). 

July 22.— What may become of my sins (38: 17). 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

July 16.— Read in 2 Kings 16 the account of the 
reign of Ahaz. 

64 



JULY 16-22. 

July 17.— Learn the condition of Babylon at this 
time. Trace the references to Moab in the Bible. 

July 18.— Study the history of Damascus in its re- 
lations with the Hebrews. 

July 19— Study the Bible references to Tyre and 
Samaria. 

July 20.— In connection with chapter 31 study the 
political relations between Egypt and the He- 
brews. 

July 21.— Eead in 2 Kings 18, 19, and 20, and in 
2 Chron. 29, 30, 31, and 32, the accounts of the 
reign of Hezekiah. 

July 22.— Mark in your Bible all Isaiah's Messi- 
anic prophecies up to this point. 



65 



JULY 23-29. 



Gbe Gbfrttetb TKHecft, 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

July 23. Isa., chapters 44, 45, 46, 47, 48. The 
prophecy of Cyrus. 

July 24. Isa., chapters 49, 50, 51,52,53. Prophecies 

of Christ. 
July 25. Isa., chapters 54, 55, 56, 57, 58,59. The 

sure mercies of David. 

July 26. Isa., chapters 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66. 
Thy light is come. 

July 27. Review Isaiah, giving titles to the 
chapters, and marking the parts that 
have most impressed you. 

July 28. Jer., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4. The prophet's 
call. Read the introduction to the book, 
given below. 

July 29. Jer., chapters 5, 6, 7. Repent! 

Jeremiah. 

He was a priest, and he prophesied in Judea for 
forty years,— until Jerusalem was captured. In 
spite of his protests and warnings, the Jews, it is 
said, carried him to Egypt with them, and it is 
also said that he was stoned to death there be- 
cause he opposed idolatry. He is the "weeping 
prophet," the prophet of stern warnings. Chap- 
ter l is an introduction ; chapters 2-11 may be the 
prophecies written by Baruch after Jehoiakim 
had burned the first roll ; chapters 21-25 are brief 
notes of warning; 25-28 foretell the fall of Jerusa- 
lem; 29-31 relate to the Babylonian exile; 32-45 
refer to the history of the two years before the fall 
of Jerusalem ; 46-51 are prophecies against foreign 
nations, especially Babylon; 52, the conclusion, 
which some think was added by Ezra. 

66 



JUL Y 23-29. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

July 23.— Am I striving with God ? (Chapter 45 : 9.) 

July 24.— My eternal confidence (51 : 6) . 

July 25.— The secret of peace (54: 13). 

July 26— Whence do I seek my happiness? 
(61:10.) 

July 27.— If Isaiah was so ennobled by the mere 
hope of the Messiah, how should I be ennobled 
who have the realization of the vision! 

July 28.— I can do all things through Him that 
strengtheneth me. (See chapter 1.) 

July 29.— How nature should inspire awe of God 

(5:24). 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

July 23. — Investigate the references to the 
Sabeans (45: 14) and to Bel and Nebo (46: 1). 

July 24.— Study the references in 49:12 to "the 
land of Sinim," and the other references in the 
Scriptures to the far East. 

July 25— Study the New Testament passages in 
which Isaiah is quoted. 

July 26.— Study the geographical terms used in 
chapter 60. 

July 27.— Study the exalted style of Isaiah, and 
characterize it in a few brief sentences. 

July 28.— Compare the hesitancy of Moses and 
Isaiah at the beginning of their work. 

July 29.— In connection with 6 : 6 study the 
weapons and methods of warfare of the times. 



67 



JUL Y 30— A UG US T 5. 



Cbe Gbirt^ffrst TKHeek< 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

July 30. Jer., chapters 8, 9, 10, 11. Tears for 
Jerusalem. 

July 31. Jer., chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, 16. The 
girdle. 

August 1. Jer., chapters 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. The 
potter. 

August 2. Jer., chapters 22, 23, 24, 25. The seventy 
years. 

August 3. Jer., chapters 26, 27, 28, 29. Jeremiah's 
trial. 

August 4. Jer., chapters 30, 31, 32. Jeremiah's 
field. 

August 5. Jer., chapters 33, 34, 35. The Rech- 
abites. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

July 30— The only true reason for self-congratu- 
lation (9:23, 24). 
July 31.— Jeremiah's confidence and ours (15:19- 

21). 

August l.—Ii God fought against me (21 : 5). 

August 2.— Thou God seest me (23: 23, 24). 
August 3— How to find God (29: 12, 13). 
August 4.— My right among God's people (30:22). 
August 5.— How nature confirms revelation (33: 

20-22). 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

July 30.— Make a study of the great Covenant, 
from the days of Abraham down. (11 : 1-5.) 



JUL Y 30— A UG US T 5. 

July 31.— Study the picturesque ways of teaching 
used by the prophets, as in chapter 13. 

August 1.— Study in connection with chapter 19 
the topography of Jerusalem and its environs. 

August 2.— Make a study of the prophecies directly 
concerning the captivity. 

August 3.— Gather up, in connection with Jere- 
miah's trial, the other great trials of the Bible. 

August 4.— In connection with 31:15, study the 
other passages in Jeremiah quoted in the New 
Testament. 

August 5.— Slavery in the Old Testament (chap- 
ter 34). 



AUGUST 6-12. 



Zbc Gbirt^econD 7KHeeft, 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

August 6. Jer., chapters 36, 37, 38, 39. Prison 
and captivity. 

August 7. Jer., chapters 40, 41, 42, 43, 44. Shun 
Egypt. 

August 8. Jer., chapters 45, 46, 47, 48. Egypt, 
Philistia, and Moab. 

August 9. Jer., chapters 49, 50. Judgments. 

August 10. Jer., chapters 51, 52. The end of the 
tragedy. 

August 11. Lamentations. Read the introduction 
to the book, given below. 

August 12. Review Jeremiah and Lamentations, 
giving titles to the chapters, and mark- 
ing in the margin the passages most 
likely to be helpful in the future. 

Lamentations. 

Jeremiah has always been set down as the 
author of this book, and indeed it must have been 
written by some one as familiar as Jeremiah was 
with all the details of the terrible siege of Jeru- 
salem which it describes. The book consists of 
five separate dirges deploring the event. Chap- 
ters 1, 2, and 4 contain each of them 22 verses be- 
ginning with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alpha- 
bet. Chapter 5 also has 22 verses, but without the 
acrostical arrangement. Chapter 3 has 66 verses 
arranged in threes, each group beginning with a 
letter of the alphabet. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

August g.-Am I in my life following the entire 
law, or do I, like Jehoiakim, mutilate it? 

70 



AUGUST 6-12. 

August 7.— God is pleading faithfully with me in 
many ways, even as Jeremiah pleaded with his 
people. 

August 8.— Shall Moab's destruction he mine? 

(48:42.) 

August P.— The perils of pride (49: 16). 

August 10.— The power of our God (51 : 15-22). 

August 11.— The way of the transgressor is hard. 

August 12. How many opportunities for repent- 
ance God gives his erring children! 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

August 6.— Read in 2 Kings 25 and 2 Chron. 36 the 
parallel accounts. 

August 7.— Study the history of Egypt during this 
time. 

August 8.— Make a study of the proper names of 
these chapters. 

August 9.— Explain the historical references in 

► these chapters. 

August 10.— Learn what additional facts regard- 
ing the captivity are here given. 

August 11.— Read in the Bible dictionary the 
account of this siege and capture of Jerusalem. 

August 12.— Write in the margin of your Bible a 
list of the known facts of the life of Jeremiah. 



71 



AUGUST 13-19. 



Zbe Cbfrts=tbir& TOleeft, 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

August 13. Ezek., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The 
prophet's commission. Bead the intro- 
duction to the book, given below. 

August 14. Ezek., chapters 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. In the 
chambers of imagery. 

August 15. Ezek., chapters 11, 12, 13, 14. The 
lying prophets. 

August 16. Ezek., chapters 15, 16, 17. The worth- 
less vine. 

August 17. Ezek., chapters 18, 19, 20. Sour grapes. 

August 18. Ezek., chapters 21, 22, 23. A sword, 
a sword .' 

August 19. Ezek., chapters 24, 25, 26, 27. God's 
enemies punished. 

Ezekiel. 

Ezekiel, a priest, was carried away by Nebu- 
chadnezzar after his second inroad into Judea, 
and prophesied for twenty-two years in a place 
about two hundred miles north of Babylon. It is 
said that he and Jeremiah exchanged manu- 
scripts, for the edification respectively of the 
Jews in Jerusalem and in the captivity. Eze- 
kiel' s prophecies abound in visions and parables, 
and there are many touches of poetry. There are 
three divisions of the work: (l) chapters 1-24 
consist of prophecies uttered before the fall of 
Jerusalem; (2) chapters 25-32, judgments upon 
seven heathen nations ; (3) chapters 33-48, prophe- 
cies of the restoration. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

August 13.— A lesson in bold speaking (chapter 2: 

6-8). 

T2 



AUGUST 13-19. 

August 14.— The punishment of sin is swift and 

sure. 
August 15.— Have I the new heart? (chapter 11: 

19.) 
August 16.— My life is in God's hands (chapter 17: 

24). 
August 17.—" The soul that sinneth, it shall die." 
August 18— Who has the right to my life ? And 

who really has it? (chapter 21 : 27.) 

August IP.— What a trifle is worldly prosperity 
compared with righteousness! 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

August 13.— Study the many striking accounts 
throughout the Bible of the commissions given 
the prophets and great teachers, and how they 
received them. 

August 14.— Study the Bible conception of cheru- 
bim. 

August 15.— Starting from chapter 11 : 19, study 
the Old Testament teachings regarding conver- 
sion. 

August 16.— Study the use of the vine as furnish- 
ing illustrations throughout the Bible. 

August 17.— Starting with chapter 20, study the 
references throughout Israel's history to God's 
original choice of the nation. 

August 18.— Study chapter 22 to form a picture of 
the condition of Jerusalem just before the 
capture. 

August 19.— Study this picture of Tyre, and com- 
pare it with secular history and with its later 
history. 



73 



AUGUST 20-26. 



Gbe Gbftt^fourtb TlHleeft* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

August 20. Ezek., chapters 28, 29, 30. Egypt's 
doom. 

August 21. Ezek., chapters 31, 32, 33. Assyria's 
doom. EzekieVs orders. 

August 22. Ezek., chapters. 34, 35, 36. Unfaithful 
shepherds. 

August 23. Ezek., chapters 37, 38, 39. The valley 
of dry bones. 

August 24. Ezek., chapters 40, 41, 42. The re- 
stored temple. 

August 25. Ezek., chapters 43, 44, 45. The re- 
stored people. 

August 26. Ezek., chapters 46, 47, 48. The won- 
derful river. \ 

For Meditation as You Read. 

August 20.— How I may cultivate humility. 

August 21.— What true greatness is. 

August 22.— The Lord is my Shepherd. 

August 23.— My life is dead without the Spirit of 

God in it. 
August 24.— God's love for His house. 
August 25.— If I do not see the glory of God, it is 

because I need to repent of my sins. 

August 26.— The sure triumph of God's kingdom. 
What share shall I have in it? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

August 20.— Study the history of Egypt during the 
time of the captivity. 

74 



AUGUST 20-26. 

August 21.— Study the history of Assyria and 
Babylon daring the lifetime of Ezekiel. 

August 22.— Study the use throughout the Bible of 
the shepherd metaphor. 

August 23.— In connection with the vision of the 

valley of dry bones, study the intimations 

throughout the Old Testament of the doctrine 

of the Holy Spirit. 
August 24.— Compare this temple of Ezekiel' s 

vision with the actual temples of Solomon and 

of the restoration. 
August 25.— Compare Ezekiel' s laws for the Le- 

vites with those in the Pentateuch. 
August 26.— Study with the map Ezekiel' s division 

of the land among the tribes. 



75 



AUGUST 27— SEPTEMBER 2. 

Gbe CbtrtB=«ftb TKBeeft. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

August 27. Dan., chapters 1, 2, 3. Temperance. 
The dream. The furnace. Read the in- 
troduction to the book, given below. 

August 28. Dan., chapters 4, 5, 6. The writing. 
The lio?is. 

August 29. Dan., chapters 7, 8, 9. Visions of 
beasts. 

August 30. Dan., chapters 10, 11, 12. Visions of 
kings. 

August 31. Review Daniel and Ezekiel, giving 
titles to the chapters, and marking the 
passages you are most anxious to re- 
member. 

September 1. Hos., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The 
evil wife. Read the introduction to the 
book, given below. 

September 2. Hos., chapters 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. 
Repent! Return! 

Daniel. 

The mention of Daniel by Ezekiel, together with 
other considerations, would seem to prove that he 
was an actual historical personage, in spite of all 
that has been said by the students of the book. 
He was carried away in the first captivity, and 
spent in Babylon a long and most remarkable life. 
In the Hebrew Bible his book is classed not with 
the prophets, but with Ezra, Nehemiah, arid the 
Chronicles. Roughly speaking, the first six chap- 
ters, the historical portion, are written in the 
Aramaic language and in the first person, and the 
last six chapters, the prophetical, in Hebrew and 

76 



AUGUST 27— SEPTEMBER 2. 

in the third person. The prophecies give the out- 
lines of history from the time of Daniel to the time 
of Christ, with a most remarkable vision of the 
reign of the Messiah. There is close resemblance 
between this book and the Revelation of St. John. 

Hosea. 

This is a prophet of the northern kingdom. His 
work extended through sixty years,— the reigns 
of the last six kings of Israel. It was a time of 
great vices, against which Hosea fearlessly in- 
veighs. The book is quoted quite largely in the 
New Testament. Its vivid pages are full of images 
taken from the country and the home. Indeed, 
the central thought of all is the picture of his 
wife's unfaithfulness, as typifying the unfaithful- 
ness of his nation. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

August 27.— God's protection is sure, if we are on 
His side. 

August 28.— There is no insight such as that which 
comes from a godlike life. 

August 29.— Nothing will convince men of the 
truth of the gospel better than trials nobly borne. 

August 30.— God knows all the future, and dis- 
closes to us only what is best for us to know. 

August 31.— How tender and constant is God's 
care for His people ! 

September I.— Unfaithfulness to God is the seed 
of all kinds of sin. 

September 2.— God will surely punish sin. 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

August 27.— Learn all you can about Babylon. 
August 28— Review the history of Assyria. 

77 



AUGUST 2 7— SEP T EMBER 2. 

August 29.— Study the history of the Medo-Persian 

empire. 
August 30.— Study the history of the Holy Land 

during the two centuries preceding the birth of 

Christ, and compare it with the predictions of 

these chapters. 

August 31.— Compare the " major prophets " with 
one another, and describe each of them in a 
few words. 

September 1 — Hunt up the New Testament refer- 
ences to Hosea. 

September 2.— Go through Hosea, marking the 
images derived from out-of-door life. 



78 



SEPTEMBER 3-9. 



Gbe Gbirt^siitb meek. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

September 3. Joel. The locust prophecy. Bead 
the introduction to each book as it is 
studied. 

September 4. Amos, chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Trans- 
gression and penalty. 

September 5. Amos, chapters 6, 7, 8, 9. Visions 
and warnings. 

September 6. Ohadiah. The doom of Edom. 

September 7. Jonah. The fruits of obedience. 

September 8. Micah. Woes and promises. 

September 9. Nahum. The doom of Nineveh, 

Joel. 

He was a prophet of Judah, though of the tribe 
of Reuben. Scholars differ widely as to his date, 
—in the time of TJzziah, in the time of Hezekiah, 
Manasseh, Josiah. Under the figure of the com- 
ing of locusts, he predicts the threatened invasion 
from Assyria, and in the last half of the book com- 
forts the people with promise of final joy and 
triumph. Peter and Paul both quote from Joel. 

Amos. 

A striking figure is this "herdsman and dresser 
of sycomore-trees." A citizen of Judea, he dared 
to prophesy in the northern kingdom, at Bethel, 
the centre of calf-worship, and at Samaria, fore- 
telling the evils that their sin would bring upon 
the people, and meeting courageously the oppo- 
sition of the chief priest, Amaziah. His prophecy 
is full of images taken from the fields. It opens 

79 



SEPTEMBER 3-9. 

with denunciations of the neighboring countries 
and of his own, especially of Samaria, passes to a 
series of remarkable visions, and closes with a 
message of hope. 

Obadiah. 

Nothing is known of the personal story of this 
prophet, nor is it definitely known when he 
prophesied, some thinking that he taught before 
Jeremiah and gave him the key for his prophecies 
regarding Edom, and others that he prophesied 
after the fall of Jerusalem. On that occasion the 
Edomites, hereditary foes of the Jews, rejoiced 
in the capture of their capital, and joined with 
the Assyrians to prevent their escape. Obadiah 
predicts their ruin, and that his nation would 
come to possess their kingdom,— a prophecy 
largely fulfilled not many decades afterward. 

Jonah. 

This prophet was born in the northern kingdom. 
The legends connect him with Elijah and Elisha, 
and he was the prophet who (2 Kings 14: 25) gave 
Jeroboam II. his encouraging predictions. All 
that is known about him in addition is told in this 
account of his disobedience, his final faithfulness, 
the preaching at Nineveh, and the repentance of 
the great city. Christ refers thrice to this book. 



Micah. 

He was born in Philistia, and prophesied for 
some half a century, during the reigns of Jotham, 
Ahaz, and Hezekiah, boldly condemning the sins 
of Judah. Jeremiah makes reference to him, and 
so do several books of the New Testament. Each 
of the three divisions of his prophecies begins 
with »' Hear ye," and with threatenings, and ends 
with comforting promises. 

80 



SEPTEMBER 3-9. 
Nahum. 

Some think that he was an inhabitant of Galilee, 
and others that he was the son of one Of the 
captives in Assyria. Some think that he prophe- 
sied in the time of Hezekiah, and others that 
he belongs to the time of Manasseh and Amon 
and Josiah. The' burden of his prophecy is that 
Assyria is to be overthrown, and of this he makes 
three distinct predictions. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

September 3.— Have I received the Spirit? (Joel 

2:28.) 

September 4.— Am I prepared to meet God? 
Amos 4: 12.) 

September 5.— "At ease in Zion" (Amos 6 re- 
does that describe my condition? 

September 6.—" The pride of thine heart hath de- 
ceived thee " (Obad. 3). 

September 7.—" I will pay that which I have 

vowed " (Jonah 2:9). 
September 8.— The terrible hiding of God's face 

(Mic. 3:4). 

September. 9.— My stronghold (Nah. 1:7). 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

September 3.— Note how great a share of this and 
the other books of the minor prophets is taken 
up with thought of an invasion. 

September 4.— Draw a map of the nations against 
which Amos prophesies, and pass a red line 
spirally over them in the order of the prophecy, 
ever drawing nearer to Samaria. 

September 5.— Underscore the passages in Amos 
that were suggested by his outdoor life. 

81 



SEPTEMBER 3-9. 

September 6.— Compare Obad. 1-9 with Jer. 49: 

7-22. 

September 7.— Review the Bible - dictionary ac- 
count of Nineveh. 

September 8.— Investigate the references to this 
book in the New Testament. 

September 9.— Compare this prophecy with Jonah. 



82 



SEPTEMBER 10-16. 



Gbe GbfttE^seventb 'Meek. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

September 10. Habakkuk. A talk with God. 

Read the introductions to these hooks 

as you study them. 
September 11. Zephaniah. The day of the Lord 

is near. 

September 12. Haggai. Build the house ! 

September 13. Zech., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4. Visions 
of the night. 

September 14. Zech., chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. The 
true fast. 

September 15. Zech., chapters 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. 
The Lord shall be King. 

September 16. Malachi. The day cometh. 

Habakkuk. 

Nothing is known of him, hut from indications 
in his writings it is guessed that he was a Levite, 
that he prophesied in the reigns of Josiah and 
Jehoahaz, and that when Jerusalem fell he re- 
mained behind in his ruined country. The hook 
is largely in the shape of an appeal to God for 
help against the threatened invasion of the Assy- 
rians, together with God's reply. Paul received 
from this hook his great watchword, "The just 
shall live by faith." 

Zephaniah. 

He was a great-grandson of Hezekiah, and 
prophesied in the days of Josiah. Judea had 
partly turned to the true God, but idolatry still 
poisoned everything. Against this the prophet 
protests, adding strong appeals to the neighbor- 
ing nations, and closing, as so many other 



SEPTEMBER 10-16. 

prophets, with a word of hope, a prophecy of final 
victory. 

Haggai. 

He was the first prophet after the exile, and 
when the rebuilding of the temple had been post- 
poned for fourteen years through the machina- 
tions of the Samaritans, it was he who, in the 
three public addresses here recorded, spurred the 
people to complete their task. It is thought that 
he was older than Zechariah, who prophesied at 
the same time, and that he had seen the first 
temple. 

Zechariah. 

Iddo, the priest, his grandfather, came with him 
from the exile, so that Zechariah must have been 
a young man when he prophesied. He began two 
months later than Haggai, and his prophecies 
cover two years, during which time he also was 
encouraging the people to complete the temple. 
The first portion of the book is occupied with vis- 
ions colored with Persian imagery; the second 
part is a discussion of the nature of a true fast ; 
and the third portion, which some think may 
have been written much earlier than the rest of 
the book, pictures the coming glory of the nation 
and the reign of the Messiah. Naturally there 
are many references to this book in the New 
Testament. 

Malachi. 

He is called "the seal" of the prophets, being 
the last of the great series. Nothing is known of 
his history, though it is thought that he was a 
priest. He must have written after the second 
return, and probably he prophesied during the 
time when Nehemiah had returned to the Persian 
court and many abuses broke out. These abuses 
Malachi rebukes, especially the priestly corrup- 
tion and the marriages with the heathen, and 

84 



SEPTEMBER 10-16. 

closes his prophecy and the Old Testament with a 
glorious anticipation of the coming Messiah. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

September 10.— Be silent before God (Hah. 2: 20). 
September 11.— God is just (Zeph. 3:5). 
September 12.— I am with you (Hag. 2:4). 

September 13.— Not by might, nor by power (Zech. 

4:6). 

September 14.— Can I stand the test of Zech. 8: 
16, 17? 

September 15.— Let everything be holy (Zech 14 : 

20). 

September 16.— Is my name in the book of remem- 
brance ? (Mai. 3 : 16.) 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

September 10.— Study the important New Testa- 
ment references to Habakkuk. 

September 11.— Review the reign of Josiah in 2 
Kings 22 and 23, and 2 Chron. 34 and 35. 

September 12.— Eeview Ezra. 

September 13.— Make a study and a comparison of 
the visions of the prophets thus far read. 

September 14.— Make a study of fasting as it is 
enjoined by the Old Testament. 

September 15— Gather up the most important 
references to the Messiah in the minor prophets. 

September 16.— Study the Old Testament utter- 
ances on tithing. 



85 



SEPTEMBER 17-23. 



Zbe CbirtE*eiflbtb llHleeft* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

September 17. Review the minor prophets hastily, 
seeking to mark in each book the pas- 
sage that seems to you most helpful. 

September 18. Keview rapidly the entire Old 
Testament, giving a name to each hook. 
Find, if possible, a one-word name, such 
as "Genesis, Beginnings"; "Buth, Fi- 
delity"; "Daniel, Steadfastness." 

September 19. Matt., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4. Birth, 
Baptism, Temptation. Read the intro- 
duction to the book, given below. 

September 20. Matt., chapters 5, 6, 7. The great 
discourse. 

September 21. Matt., chapters 8, 9. Wonderful 
miracles. 

September 22. Matt., chapters 10, 11. The dis- 
ciples sent forth. 

September 23. Matt., chapters 12, 13. Precious 
parables. 

Matthew. 

Of the four Gospels, written by the four evange- 
lists, the first three are called the "synoptical" 
Gospels, because they present a view of Christ's 
life more or less connected. John's supplements 
them. We know nothing of Matthew except that 
he was a Hebrew tax-collector, the circumstances 
of his call by Christ, and the story of his feast. It 
is said that he wrote first in Aramaic, but we 
have only the translation into Greek, which was 
made not long after the middle of the first cen- 
tury. The main purpose of the Gospel is to show 
his fellow Jews that Christ sums up in himself all 
they had expected and the prophets had foretold 

86 



SEPTEMBER 17-23. 

of the promised Messiah. Naturally, there are 
many quotations from the Old Testament— as 
many as 65. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

September 17.— Let me he hold in speaking for 

God. 
September 18.— How may I gain more from the 

Word of God? 
September IP.— Ways in which I can "prepare 

the way of the Lord." 
September 20.— How many of the Beatitudes can I 

claim for myself? 
September 21.— The touch of faith will make me 

whole. 
September 22— -The fearful consequences of deny- 
ing Christ. 
September 23.— What kind of soil for the truth 

does my heart afford? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

September 17.— Write at the head of each of these 
twelve books a brief description of the prophet, 
such as, "Amos, the Herdman Prophet." 

September 18.— Make in your Bible a chronological 
table of the books of the Old Testament. 

September 19.— Ke view what the Old Testament 
says about the various ancestors of Christ. 

September 20.— Find in the Old Testament verses 
that are parallel to each portion of the Sermon 
on the Mount, or contrasted with it. 

September 21.— Study the matter of demon posses- 
sion. 

September 22.— Review in the Bible dictionary 
the entire story of John the Baptist. 

September 23.— Obtain from chapter 13 a clear 
conception of what Christ meant by "the king- 
dom of heaven." 



87 



SEPTEMBER 24-30. 



Gbe CbirtE=nintb TKUeefc, 



Sections lor Daily Reading. 

September 24. Matt, chapters 14, ,15 16. Feed- 
ing the five thousand, etc. 

September 25. Matt., chapters 17, 18, 19. The 
tr mis figuration, etc. 

September 26. Matt., chapters 20, 21, 22. 27&e 
entrance into Jerusalem, etc. 

September 27. Matt., chapters 23, 24. Teach- 
ings in the temple. 

September 28. Matt., chapters 25, 26. G^ft- 
semane. The betrayal. 

September 29. Matt., chapters 27, 28. Z>ea£/i emd 

September 30. Review Matthew, marking in the 
margin the passages you especially 
wish to remember. 



For Meditation as You Read. 

September 24.— Christ can use my little abilities 
to accomplish great things. 

September 25.— Let me humble myself and be- 
come as a little child. 

September 26.— Have I put on " the wedding gar- 
ment"? 

September 27.— Do I in any way come under the 
condemnation of the Pharisees? 

September 28.— The use I am making of the tal- 
ents given me by God. 

September 29.— Christ died for me. 

September 30.— Let me consider whether I am 



SEPTEMBER 24-30. 

giving my life to Christ as his sacrifices for me 
demand. 



For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

September 24. Study the geography of the Sea 
of Galilee and the surrounding country. 

September 25.— Besides the transfiguration, what 
light does the Bible shed on the appearance of 
the spiritual body? 

September 26.— Learn what you can about the 
temple and its services in the time of Christ. 

September 27.— Learn all you can about the 
Pharisees. 

September 28.— Study the system of trials in vogue 
among the Jews. 

September 29.— Make a list giving in their proba- 
ble order the events of Christ's life the week 
before his crucifixion. 

September 30. — Study the passages in Matthew 
in which the evangelist makes reference to the 
Old Testament. 



OCTOBER 1-7. 



Zbe Jfortietb Meeft^ 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

October 1. Mark, chapters 1, 2. John the Bap- 
tist, etc. Read the introduction to the 
hook, given helow. 

October 2. Mark, chapters 3, 4, 5. The apostles 
chosen, etc. 

October 3. Mark, chapters 6, 7. The Baptist be- 
headed, etc. 

October 4. Mark, chapters 8, 9. The miraculous 
meal, etc. 

October 5. Mark, chapters 10, 11. The entrance 
to Jerusalem, etc. 

October 6. Mark, chapters 12, 13. Last teachings. 

October 7. Mark, chapters 14, 15, 16. The closing 
scenes, 

Mark. 

John Mark was the nephew or cousin of Barna- 
bas, and though estranged from Paul at one time, 
he became his beloved friend. Peter is thought 
to have superintended the writing of this Gospel. 
The frequent explanations of Jewish terms, the 
omission of reference to Jewish law and of 
Christ's genealogy, and the use of several Latin 
words, all point to the purpose of the book to aid 
the Gentiles, and favor the tradition that it 
was written at Rome and for the Romans. It 
must have been written before the destruction of 
Jerusalem. Mark's great word is " immediately," 
which he uses forty-one times, and his Gospel is 
one of rapid movement and many graphic touches, 
impetuous as Peter himself. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

October 1.— The baptism of the Holy Ghost is 
meant for me. Have I received it? 

90 






OCTOBER 1-7. 

October 2.— Is the house of my soul divided against 

itself? 
October 3.— Am I defiled by the thoughts of my 

heart? 
October 4.— What shall a man give in exchange 

for his soul? 

October 5.— How hard to trust in riches and he 

saved ! 
October 6.—" Ye know not when the time is." 
October 7.— Christ died for my sins. 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

October 1.— Read the Bible-dictionary accounts of 
the smaller towns closely associated with Christ : 
Nazareth, Capernaum, Jericho, Bethany. 

October 2.— Study the list of the twelve Apostles, 
tracing each one of them through the New Testa- 
ment, with the exception of John and Peter. 

October 3.— Get from the Bible dictionary a clear 
idea of the different Herods of the New Testa- 
ment. 

October 4.— Gather up the various accounts of 
healing of the blind and compare them. 

October 5.— Study the relation between Christ and 
the temple as shown in all the Gospels. 

October 6.— Gather up the events of Christ's life 
associated with the Mount of Olives. 

October 7.— Bring together in a single orderly list 
all of Christ's sayings upon the cross. 



91 



OCTOBER 8-14. 



Zbe 3fort£=ffrst OTeeft. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

October 8. .Review Mark, marking in the margin 
the passages you most desire to remem- 
ber. 

October 9. Luke, chapters 1, 2. The Bethlehem 
story. Read the introduction to the 
book, given below. 

October 10. Luke, chapters 3, 4. John's preach- 
ing, etc. 

October 11. Luke, chapters 5, 6. The wonderful 
draught, etc. 

October 12. Luke, chapters 7, 8. The centurion'' s 
servant, etc. 

October 13. Luke, chapters 9, 10. The Twelve 
sent forth, etc. 

October 14. Luke, chapters 11, 12. Parables. 



Luke. 

Luke, the physican, the friend of Paul and 
sharer in his imprisonments, may have been a 
manumitted slave and a Syrian of Antioch. His 
writings— the Gospel and the Acts— are the best 
history of the church we possess. The Gospel was 
probably written between A. D. 60 and A. D. 70. 
He used many sources of information, and doubt- 
less he was more or less dominated by the spirit 
of Paul. The Gospel is intended for all, but espe- 
cially for the Greeks. This is the most complete 
Gospel. In this Gospel women appear most often. 
It preserves for us a number of most beautiful 
hymns. It uses many words peculiar to Luke, 
which serve to bind together the Gospel and the 
Acts, and prove them to be by one author. 

92 



OCTOBER 8-14. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

October 8.— How earnestly am I trying to pattern 
my life after Christ's? 

October 9.—" No word of God shall he void of 
power." 

October 10.— I can conquer my temptations hy the 

same means Christ used. 
October 11.— How much Christ evidently gained 

from secret prayer! (5: 16, etc.) 

October 12.— Why cannot I have the centurion's 

faith? 
October 13.—" He that is least among you all, the 

same is great." 
October 14.— Can I honestly pray the Lord's 

Prayer? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

October 8.— Mark and study the passages in which 
Mark uses " straightway." 

October 9— Study the Jewish temple ceremonies 
concerning young children. 

October 10. — Compare Luke's and Matthew's 
genealogy of Christ. 

October 11.— Gather up the Gospel references to 
the Publicans. 

October 12.— Make a study of the instances in 
which Christ raised persons from the dead. 

October 13.— Study and compare the three ac- 
counts of the transfiguration. 

October 14— Gather up Christ's sayings concern- 
ing the Pharisees. 



93 



OCTOBER 15-21. 



XZbe jfortg^seconD TOleeft^ 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

October 15. Luke, chapters 13, 14. Healing on 
the Sabbath, etc. 

October 16. Luke, chapters 15, 16. The prodigal 
son, etc. 

October 17. Luke, chapters 17, 18. Forgiveness, 
etc. 

October 18. Luke, chapters 19, 20. Zacchceus, etc. 

October 19. Luke, chapters 21, 22. The betrayal. 

October 20. Luke, chapters 23, 24. Death and 
resurrection. 

October 21. Review Luke hastily, marking the 
passages that you most wish to re- 
member. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

October 15.— Am I seeking the narrow door? 

October 16.— Am I "faithful in the mirighteous 
mammon " ? 

October 17.—" Lord, increase my faith." 

October 18.— Render unto God the things that are 

God's. 
October 19.—" In your patience ye shall win your 

souls." 
October 20.— How my life denies Christ. 

October 21.—" Socrates died like a man; Jesus 
Christ died like a God." 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

October 15.— Make a brief summary of Christ's 
teachings regarding the Sabbath. 

94 



OCTOBER 15-21. 

October 16.— Gather together Christ's sayings con- 
cerning riches. 

October 17.— What were Christ's teachings regard- 
ing little children? 

October 18.— Compare the parable of the pounds 
with the parable of the talents. 

October 19.— Compare the different accounts of 
the Lord's Supper in the New Testament. 

October 20.— Study the history of Pilate. 

October 21.— Note in a Gospel harmony how many 
incidents are related by Luke alone. 



95 



OCTOBER 22-28. 



XLbc jFort^tbirfc TOeeft* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

October 22. John, chapters 1, 2. The Word. 
Bead the introduction to the hook, given 
below. 

October 23. John, chapters 3, 4. The second birth. 

October 24. John, chapters 5, 6. Bethesda. 

October 25. John, chapters 7, 8. The Sabbath 
question. 

October 26. John, chapters 9, 10, 11, The blind 
man. Lazarus. 

October 27. John, chapters 12, 13, 14. Hosanna! 

October 28. John, chapters 15, 16. The last dis- 
course. 

John. 

This Gospel was certainly written by the Be- 
loved Disciple, and probably between A. D. 80 and 
A. D. 90. The place where he wrote was doubt- 
less Ephesus. The book duplicates comparatively 
little of the material of the other Gospels, and 
where it does so, it adds many interesting details. 
John gives no parables, omits the accounts of the 
birth, baptism, temptation, transfiguration, and 
ascension. On the other hand, his Gospel is rich 
in noble discourses, and above all, in the wonder- 
ful final discourse of the Master. If it were not 
for John, we should know little about any but a 
single year of Christ's ministry, and the scenes in 
Galilee. John's is the great spiritual and doc- 
trinal Gospel. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

October 22— Behold, the Lamb of God! 
October 23.— Ye must be born anew. 

96 



OCTOBER 22-28. 

October 24.— I am the Bread of Life. 

October 25.— The sinner is the bond-servant of sin. 

October 26.— I am the Good Shepherd. 

October 27.— What ointment am I pouring upon 

the feet of Jesus? 
October 28.—" Be of good cheer ; I have overcome 

the world.'* 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

October 22.— Group together and study Christ's 
miracles over nature. 

October 23.— Make a study of Christ's conversa- 
tions. 

October 24.— Make a list of the things to which 
Christ compared himself. 

October 25— Study Christ's statements of his own 
divinity. 

October 26.— What was Christ's estimate of his 
own miracles? 

October 27.— Study the evidences throughout this 
Gospel that it was written by John. 

October 28.— Study the doctrine of the Holy Spirit 
as it is revealed in John's Gospel. 



97 



OCTOBER 29— NOVEMBER 4. 



Cbe jForts*fourtb Wee??, 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

October 29. John, chapters 17, 18. The trial. 
October 30. John, chapters 19, 20, 21. The closing 

scenes. 
October 31. Review the Gospel of John, marking 

in the margin the passages that seem to 

you to be most precious. 
November 1. Review the four Gospels hastily, 

reminding yourself again of the special 

characteristics of each. 
November 2. Acts, chapters 1, 2, 3. Pentecost. 

Read the introduction to the book, given 

below. 
November 3. Acts, chapters 4, 5. Ananias. 
November 4. Acts, chapters 6, 7, 8. Deacons. 

Stephen. Philip. 

Acts. 

This book was written by Luke, who dedicated 
it to the same man— Theophilus— whom he named 
in his Gospel. The book of Acts has been called 
" the Gospel of the Spirit." Luke probably wrote 
it at Rome, and about A. D. 62, since the history 
closes about A. D. 61, and since the fall of Jerusa- 
lem is not alluded to. The Greek title, "Acts," 
or "Acts of Apostles," is more correct than "the 
Acts of the Apostles," as the lives of only two 
apostles are treated, and the book may well be 
divided at chapter 13: 3 between the acts of Peter 
and the acts of Paul. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

October 29.— Christ sends me into the world, even 
as He was sent (17: 18). 

October 30.—" Receive ye the Holy Ghost " (20 :22). 



OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4. 

October 31.— John was the Beloved Disciple he- 
cause he was the loving disciple. . 

November 1.—" These are written that believing 
ye might have life." 

November 2.—" Ye shall receive power when the 
Holy Ghost is come upon you " (Acts 1:8). 

November 3.— God requires absolute truth in 
heart and life. 

November 4.— Would I have had Stephen's cour- 
age? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

October 29.— Make an analysis of the prayer re- 
corded in chapter 17. 

October 30.— What facts about the forty days fol- 
lowing the resurrection, additional to those 
given in the other Gospels, does John give? 

October 31.— Make a list of the discourses in John 
that are not given elsewhere, and discover their 
general character. 

November 1.— Go through the Gospels with a har- 
mony, and mark in each, with a peculiar color, 
the matters that are recorded in that Gospel 
only. 

November 2— Look up the evidences that the 
Gospel of Luke and the Acts were written by 
the same person. 

November 3.— Study in the other portions of the 
New Testament what is meant by the saying 
that the early Christians had all things in 
common. 

November 4— Learn what the New Testament 
teaches about the office of deacon. 



NOVEMBER 5-11. 



Zbe jfortgsfiftb Week. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

November 5. Acts, chapters 9, 10. Paul con- 
verted. Peter's dream. 

November 6. Acts, chapters 11, 12, 13. The first 
missionary journey. 

November 7. Acts, chapters 14, 15. The first 
church council. 

November 8. Acts, chapters 16, 17. The entrance 
into Europe. 

November 9. Acts, chapters 18, 19. Corinth and 
Ephesus. 

November 10. Acts, chapters 20, 21. Paul's arrest. 

November 11. Acts, chapters 22, 23. Paul's trial. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

November 5.— Paul's conversion is an absolute 
proof of the truth of the gospel. 

November 6.— Cannot I aspire to the character 
of Barnabas (11 : 24) ? 

November 7.— Am I like John Mark? (15: 38.) 

November 8.— Can I not sing, like Paul and Silas, 
in the midst of my troubles? 

November P.— God gives me the same injunction 
he gave Paul in Acts 18 : 9. 

November 10.— Let me face danger as Paul faced 
it. 

November 11.— I will take for an example of meek- 
ness Paul's reply in 23: 5. 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

November 5.— Study the traces in the later parts 
of the New Testament of Peter's remaining 
Jewish prejudices. 

100 



NOVEMBEH 5-11. 

November 6.— Trace Barnabas through the New 

Testament. 
November 7.— Make a map showing the course of 

Paul's first missionary journey. 

November 8.— Make a map showing Paul's second 
missionary journey. 

November P.— Study what Paul says in his writ- 
ings about the doctrine of the Holy Ghost. 

November 10.— Study the New Testament idea of 
prophecy. 

November 11.— Compare the three accounts of 
Paul's conversion given in the New Testament. 



101 



NOVEMBER 12-18. 



Gbe 3FortE*0i£jb TKlleefc* 

Sections for Daily Reading. 

November 12. Acts, chapters 24, 25, 26. Felix. 
Festus. Agrippa. 

November 13. Acts, chapters 27, 28. The voyage 
to Rome. 

November 14. Review Acts, giving titles to the 
chapters. 

November 15. Rom., chapters 1, 2, 3. Justifica- 
tion by faith. Read the introduction to 
the book, given below. 

November 16. Rom., chapters 4,5, 6, 7. Recon- 
ciled by Christ. 

November 17. Rom., chapters 8, 9. No condem- 
nation. 

November 18. Rom., chapters 10, 11, 12, 13. Put 
ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Romans. 

When at Corinth in his missionary journey, A. D. 
58, Paul took advantage of Phoebe's going to Rome 
to send by her a letter to the brethren whom he 
had been planning to visit. Some of these brethren 
probably had been converted on the Day of Pente- 
cost, and others Paul may have met on his 
journeys. He had just written to the Galatians, 
and in his letter continues and expounds more 
fully the great doctrine of justification by faith. 
Much of the letter is taken up with the questions 
which would perplex Christians in Rome, such as 
God's design for the future of the Jews, and the 
relation of Christians to idolatrous practices. The 
letter closes with many practical exhortations. 

For Meditation as You Read. 
November 12 .—Do not be disobedient unto the 

heavenly vision. 

102 



NO VEMBER 12-18. 

November 13.— •" God, whose I am and whom I 
serve." 

November 14.— Why may I not have the same zeal 
and success as the early disciples and apostles? 

November 15.— In judging another I condemn my- 
self. 

November 16.— The good of sorrow (5:1-5). 

Noveinber 17.— If God is for me, who is against 
me? 

November 18.— In honor preferring one another. 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

November 12.— Study the life history of the rulers 
mentioned in these chapters. 

November 13.— Make for yourself an outline map 
of Paul's journey to Eome. 

November 14.— Divide the history of the early 
. church, as given in Acts, into six or seven eras, 
and mark them in the margin of your Bible. 

November 15.— Keview the origin of the rite of 
circumcision and its meaning to the Jewish 
church. 

November 16.— Study the New Testament teach- 
ings regarding baptism and its meanings. 

November 1 7.— What are the characteristics of 
Paul's literary style? 

November 18.— What is the attitude of the New 
Testament toward worldly authorities? (Chap- 
ter 13.) 



103 



NOVEMBER 19-25. 



Gbe jFort^seventb TOeeft* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

November 19. Rom., chapters 14, 15, 16. Doubtful 
disputations. 

November 20. 1 Cor., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Is 
Christ divided? Read the introduction 
to the book, given below. 

November 21. 1 Cor., chapters 6, 7, 8, 9. Many 
injunctions. 

November 22. l Cor., chapters 10, 11, 12, 13. Love 
never faileth. 

November 23. 1 Cor., chapters 14, 15, 16. O death, 
where is thy sting ? 

November 24. 2 Cor., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4. Forgive. 
Read the introduction to the book, given 
below. 

November 25. 2 Cor., chapters 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. 
Ministry. 

First Corinthians. 

From Ephesus, A. D. 57, during his third mission- 
ary journey, Paul wrote this letter to the church 
which he had established at Corinth five years 
before. Corinth, in the focus of trade east and 
west, north and south, was a cosmopolitan city, 
and the church was made up of many different 
classes who soon split into parties, the Jews fav- 
oring Peter, others Paul, others Apollos, others 
simply Christ. Paul writes to counsel unity and 
also to rebuke the excesses of the church. The 
immediate cause of the letter was the coming to 
Paul of a committee from the church at Corinth, 
whose many questions the apostle here answers, 

104 



NOVEMBER 19-25. 

The closing chapters of this book reach the lofti- 
est eloquence, the deepest philosophy. 

Second Corinthians. 

Forced from Ephesus by the riot, Paul went to 
Macedonia, where Titus found him and told him 
of the effect of his first letter to Corinth. In the 
main his reproofs and injunctions had been 
heeded, but the Jewish party, re-inforced by some 
high authority, had been attacking him with great 
violence and malice. Thereupon Paul wrote this 
sturdy epistle as a defence. It constitutes a mag- 
nificent picture of his strenuous life. The date 
was early in A. D. 58, and the place of writing was 
probably Philippi. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

November 19.— None of us liveth to himself. 
November 20.— I am God's fellow worker (3:9). 
November 21— My body is the temple of the Holy 

Ghost. 
November 22.— Have I such love as Paul describes 

in the wonderful chapter 13? 

November 23.— Quit you like a man ; be strong. 

November 24.— I will look not at the things which 
are seen, but at the things which are not seen. 

November 25.— I would become a new creature in 
Christ. 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

November 19— Study the evidences throughout 
the New Testament of Paul's consecration and 
self-denial. 

November 20.— Re-read the account of the found- 
ing of the church at Corinth. 

November 21.— Trace Paul's teachings regarding 
bodily purity throughout his writings. 



NOVEMBER 19-25. 

November 22.— Study all the New Testament 
references to the Lord's Supper. 

November 23.— Learn so far as you can through 
the New Testament what was the nature of the 
gift of tongues. 

November 24.— The New Testament teaching re- 
garding forgiveness compared with the teaching 
of the Old Testament. 

November 25.— Look up all the references to this 
collection for the poor in Jerusalem. 



106 



NOVEMBER 26— DECEMBER 2. 

Zbe jFortE=eigbtb TKHeefc* 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

November 26. 2 Cor., chapters 10, 11, 12, 13. I 
must needs glory. 

November 27. Keview Komans and First and 
Second Corinthians, underscoring the 
words that will indicate the progress of 
the argument. 

November 28. Gal., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4. The old 
covenant fulfilled. Read the introduc- 
tion to the hook, given helow. 

November 29. Gal., chapters 5, 6. Eph., chapters 
1, 2, 3. No more strangers. Read the 
introduction .to Ephesians. 

November 30. Eph. 4, 5, 6. Put away the old 
man. 

December 1. Philippians. The peace of God. 
Kead the introduction. 

December 2. Colossians. Holding fast the Head. 
Read the introduction. 

Galatians. 

In A. D. 58, either in Macedonia or after he had 
gone down to Corinth, Paul wrote to the Christians 
in Galatia, a church he had founded in A. D. 52, 
while detained there by sickness on his second 
missionary journey, afterwards visiting it on his 
third journey. The country was settled by Gauls 
driven from Italy and Greece, hut Greeks' 
Romans, and Jews had come to live among them. 
The Jews had made trouble in the church by in- 
sisting on circumcision and the Mosaic law, and 
declaring Paul nothing as compared with Peter. 
Paul wrote this letter to show how the coming of 

107 



NOVEMBER 26— DECEMBER 2. 

Christ had introduced a new dispensation, not of 
law, but of grace ; and he gives his first sketch of 
the doctrine of justification by faith and not by- 
works. 

Ephesians. 

This was written from Eome about A. D. 63, 
during Paul's first imprisonment. Paul had lived 
three years in the luxurious Asiatic capital of 
Ephesus, and had done much to break the power 
of the great temple of Diana. There are no 
p'ersonal greetings in the letter, and so it is be- 
lieved to have been a circular one, intended to be 
passed around among several churches. It is an 
epistle of general exhortation and counsel, 
especially fitted to tliose that had lately come 
from heathenism and were still exposed to its 
temptations. 

Philippians. 

This, like the preceding, was written from Eome 
during Paul's first imprisonment. It is a letter of 
gratitude sent by Epaphroditus, who had brought 
to Paul some generous gifts from the church. This 
church was the first established in Europe. Read 
the story in the Acts of the conversion of Lydia 
and afterwards of the jailer and his family. We 
have knowledge that Paul visited this church at 
least twice again. 

Colossians. 

This letter also was written at Rome during 
Paul's first imprisonment, and it was sent by 
Tychicus and Onesimus, who were going to Asia. 
Epaphras from Colossae had visited Paul at Rome, 
and told him about his fellow Colossians whom 
Paul had never seen. Epaphras himself may 
have brought them the gospel from Paul while 
the apostle was at Ephesus. Paul's main purpose 
in the letter was to warn the Colossian Christians 
against a heresy that had crept into their church. 

108 



NOVEMBER 26— DECEMBER 2. 
For Meditation as You Read. 

November 26.— I will bring every thought into 

captivity to Christ. 
November 27.— Do I ponder enough over divine 

truth as it is found in the Bible ? 

November 28.— No longer I, but Christ liveth in 
me. 

November 20.— Whatsoever I sow, that shall I also 
reap. 

November 30.— Am I grieving the Holy Spirit of 
God? 

December 1.— Have I the peace of God which 

passe th all understanding? 
December 2.—" Set your mind on the things that 

are above." 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

November 26.~ Compare Paul's account of his 
sufferings with the history, and see how much 
must have been left unrecorded. 

November 27.— Make a study of the argument of 
Romans and condense it into as few sentences 
as possible. 

November 28.— Trace through the New Testament 
Paul's struggle with the Judaizing party. 

November 29.— Review in the Acts the story of 
Paul's stay at Ephesus. 

November 30.— Make a list from Paul's writings 
of the principal temptations that had to be 
faced by Christian converts from heathenism. 

December 1.— Review in the Acts the circum- 
stances of the founding of the church at Philippi. 

December 2.— Make a list of the principal heresies 
which, as the New Testament shows, disturbed 
the early church. 



109 



DECEMBER 3-9. 



Cbe jFort^nintb meek. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

December3. First Thessalonians. A faithful 
church. Kead, with each book of the 
week, the introduction given below. 

December 4. Second Thessalonians. The second 
coming. 

December 5. Eeview Paul's letters, from Gala- 
tians to Second Thessalonians, giving 
titles to the chapters. 

December 6. First Timothy. A young minister. 

December 7. Second Timothy. Paul's last letter. 

December 8. Titus. Christian work under diffi- 
culties. 

December 9. Philemon. Justice and mercy. 

First Thessalonians. 

This is Paul's earliest epistle, being written at 
Corinth late in A. D. 52, in the course of his second 
missionary journey. The preceding year Paul 
and Silas had founded the church in this large 
commercial centre, first laboring with the Jews 
and then turning to the Gentiles. From this 
church Silas and Timothy came to Paul at Corinth, 
and told him many good things about the Thessa- 
lonians; but also some bad news, especially that, 
through looking for the immediate coming of 
Christ in the heavens, many of them had given up 
work and fallen into disorder. Paul wrote to cor- 
rect these abuses. 

Second Thessalonians. 

This second epistle was also written from Cor- 
inth, and not long after the first. It is occupied 
with the same theme as the first letter, for Paul 

110 



DECEMBER 3-9. 

had learned that the Christians of Thessalonica 
were still excited and disturbed over the expected 
second advent. 

First Timothy. 

After the first imprisonment at Home, which 
Timothy shared with him, Paul returned to Asia 
Minor with this beloved young man and estab- 
lished him in charge of the church at Ephesus. 
This was a very difficult post on account of the 
licentious worship of Diana at the great temple, 
and because of heresies which had crept into the 
church itself. This letter, written by Paul prob- 
ably from Macedonia, for which he had left Asia 
Minor, is a general epistle of instruction on the 
conduct of his ministry. The date lies between 
64 and 67 A, D. 

Second Timothy. 

This is the last of Paul's writings. It was writ- 
ten during his second imprisonment at Rome, 
between 66 and 68 A. D. It gives some particulars 
we should not otherwise know about this second 
imprisonment and trial, and about Paul's life and 
the condition of the church between his first and 
this final imprisonment. Though urging Timothy 
to make all speed to Rome, Paul knows that he 
may never see the young man again, and sends 
him some earnest parting messages. 

Titus. 

Titus, a Greek, was in charge of the church in 
Crete ; a church exposed to many dangers from 
the lying, immorality, and fickleness of the people. 
Paul wrote this letter at some time between A. D. 
64 and A. D. 67, to give him just about such counsel 
as he gave Timothy in his first letter to him. Prob- 
ably Paul had won Titus on his first missionary 
journey. He was not circumcised, and Paul took 
him up to that momentous council at Jerusalem, 

111 



DECEMBER 3-9. 

that the necessity for circumcision might be de- 
cided. Panl had sent him several times as his 
ambassador to Corinth. 

Philemon. 

This is the only one of Paul's letters which is of 
a strictly private and personal nature, and yet it 
is full of beauty and instruction. Onesimus, a 
runaway slave, was converted by Paul at Rome. 
Paul induced him to go back to his former master, 
Philemon, a Christian of Colossse, there to receive 
whatever punishment might be inflicted. He was 
sending by Tychicus a letter to the church at 
Colossae, and gave him also this letter to explain 
matters to Philemon and beg his favor on behalf 
of Onesimus. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

December 3.— Pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5: 
17). 

December 4.— Have I "the patience of Christ"? 
(2 Thess. 3:5.) 

December 5.— Am I in any point growing " weary 
in well doing "? (2 Thess. 3 : 13.) 

December 6.— What profit am I gaining from my 
religion? (1 Tim. 4:8.)' 

December 7.— How I may rid myself of worldly en- 
tanglements (2 Tim. 2:4). 

December 8.— My blessed hope (Titus 2: 13). 

December P.— How much of my time am I spend- 
ing in practical helpfulness toward others? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

December 3.— Read in the Acts the account of the 
founding of the church in Thessalonica. 

December 4.— Study what Christ himself said 
about his second coming. 

112 



DECEMBER 3-9. 

December 5.— What peculiarities can you discover 
that are common to all of Paul's letters to the 
churches? 

December 6.— What idea can you gain from Paul's 
writings as to the organization of the early 
church? 

December 7.— Make a study of Paul's salutations 
contained in his letters. 

December £. — Gather up Paul's references to 
women, and study them in the light of the con- 
ditions of the times. 

December 9.— Study in the light of the times Paul's 
attitude toward slavery. 






113 



DECEMBER 10-16. 

Zbe afiftietb meek, 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

December 10. Heb., chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. The 
great High Priest. Read the introduc- 
tion to each hook before the book is 
read. 
December 11. Heb., chapters 7, 8, 9, 10. The 

new covenant. 
December 12. Heb., chapters 11, 12, 13. The 

catalogue of faith. 
December 13. Review Paul's letters, from First 
Timothy to Hebrews, giving titles to the 
chapters. 
December 14. James, chapters 1, 2, 3, 4. Prac- 
tical precepts. 
December 15. James, chapter 5; 1 Pet., chapters 

1, 2. A peculiar people. 
December 16. 1 Pet., chapters 3, 4, 5. Christian 
duties. 

Hebrews. 
It is not known who wrote this epistle— possi- 
bly Paul, since the thought and language are in 
some points like his; but it has been attributed 
to Luke, to Apollos, to Barnabas. Various indi- 
cations point to a date between A. D. 64 and A. D. 
67. At any rate, it was written before the fall 
of Jerusalem, as it speaks of the temple worship 
as still going on. It was written probably to the 
Hebrew Christians of Palestine, and to comfort 
them in their persecutions. They had lost, in 
accepting Christ, much that was sacred to them. 
Paul devotes himself to showing how far Christ is 
superior to them all— to angels, Moses, the an- 

114 



DECEMBER 10-16. 

cient priesthood, taking these points in order. 
The apostle goes on to contrast the glorious new 
covenant with the old one, and closes with a 
splendid picture of faith and of other virtues. 

James. 

The author of this epistle, our Lord's brother 
according to the flesh, was a Jew of the stricter 
sort, and in his letter urges the most sincere and 
thorough-going Christian living. The letter is the 
first of the " general epistles,"— those of James, 
Peter, John, and Jude,— so called because they 
are not addressed to any particular church. The 
letter of James, for instance, was written for all 
the Christian Jews that had been scattered from 
Jerusalem over the world. It is a letter full of 
the most practical wisdom. 

First Peter. 

Peter's later work, after that in Palestine with 
which the Acts makes us acquainted, was in Asia 
Minor; and this letter is addressed to the Jewish 
Christians of those provinces. Several references 
in the letter seem to show that the Christians 
were then undergoing persecution— probably that 
instigated by Nero; and this epistle was written 
to convert and encourage them. The date may 
be about 63 A. D. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

December 10.— My help in temptation (Heb. 2: 

18). 
December 11.— My sins in God's presence (Heb. 

10:31). 
December 12.— The unseen cloud of witnesses 

(Heb. 12:1, 2). 
December 13.— The uses of sorrow (Heb. 12: 5-11). 
December 14— Can my religion stand James's 

test? (Jas. 1:27.) 

115 



DECEMBER 10-16. 

December 15.— In sorrow and joy (Jas. 5: 13). 
December 16.— Hgw should I be a partaker of 
Christ's sufferings? (1 Pet. 4: 13.) 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

December 10. — Make a list of the most important 

changes Christianity would work in the religion 

of a converted Jew. 
December 11.— Study the many ways in which the 

Mosaic ritual and the temple pointed forward 

to Christ. 
December 12.— What names can you add from the 

Old Testament to the catalogue of the heroes of 

faith? 
December 13.— Study the arguments for and 

against the Pauline authorship of the letter to 

the Hebrews. 
December 14.— Look up and clearly distinguish in 

your mind the different Jameses mentioned in 

the New Testament. 
December 15.— In connection with 1 Pet. 1 : 20 learn 

what the Bible says about Christ as a part of 

God's plan of redemption. 

December 16.— In connection with chapter 3, study 
what the New Testament says about the rela- 
tion of husband and wife. 



U6 



DECEMBER 17-23. 



Gbe 3fiftE=ffr0t meek. 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

December 17. 2 Peter. The great addition. Read 
the introduction to each book before the 
book is read. 

December 18. 1 John. God is love. 

December 19. 2 John. Love one another. 

December 20. 3 John. Fellow workers. 

December 21. Jude. Contend for the faith. 

December 22. Review the General Epistles, giv- 
ing titles to the chapters, and mark the 
passages you especially wish to remem- 
ber. 

December 23. Rev., chapters 1, 2, 3. The mes- 
sages to the churches. 

Second Peter. 

This letter was probably addressed to the same 
persons for whom Peter wrote his former epistle ; 
and though the date is uncertain, several refer- 
ences in the letter point to a time just before 
Peter's death. The epistle is an exhortation to 
faith in a well-proved gospel. Peter's reference 
to Paul is most noteworthy. 

First John. 

This, "the most independent of place and time 
and circumstance of all the writings in the New 
Testament," is an appendix to the Gospel of John, 
being a further unfolding of many of the unique 
truths there set forth. John probably wrote it at 
Ephesus toward the close of his long life ; that is, 
in one of the last years of the first century. It 

117 



DECEMBER 11-23. 

was quite certainly written for the churches in 
Asia, to which the apostle ministered. 

Second John. 

This very brief letter repeats some of the teach- 
ings of the first epistle. It is addressed to " the 
elect lady and her children," by which some think 
John meant the church, and others think he 
meant an actual person. Neither explanation is 
wholly satisfactory. Date and place of writing 
are also unknown, though probably the same as 
those of the first letter. 

Third John. 

Several persons named Gaius or Caius are men- 
tioned in the New Testament, but none of these 
can be identified with the person to whom John 
wrote this letter. There is no reason for assign- 
ing it to a date or place different from those of 
the first two epistles. 

Jude. 

The Jude who wrote this epistle was doubtless 
the brother of our Lord according to the flesh, and 
therefore the brother of the James who wrote the 
epistle we have just read. Probably he is ad- 
dressing the same audience that James addressed 
—the depressed Jewish Christians, whom he urges 
to hold fast to the faith in spite of false teachers 
and many temptations. A comparison of this 
epistle with the second letter of Peter will show 

many points of similarity. 

« 

The Revelation. 

The Eevelation, pr the "Apocalypse," is the 
only prophetic book in the New Testament. It 
was undoubtedly written by John, and probably 
during his exile on the island of Patmos. There 
is the widest divergence of belief, however, as to 

118 



DECEMBER 17-23. 

the date of the writing, some thinking it was writ- 
ten possibly as early as A. D. 68, others placing it 
near the close of John's life. There are many 
points of agreement in the thoughts and the spirit 
of the Gospel and the Revelation, but the former 
is written in much purer Greek than the latter. 
After a brief introduction, followed by the mes- 
sages to the seven churches of Asia Minor, the 
greater part of the book is occupied with seven 
series of visions. The meaning of many of these 
is undetermined, though the general teaching— 
the ultimate triumph of the church— is entirely 
clear ; and the book is full of comfort and inspira- 
tion. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

December 17.— How far have I gone in Peter's ad- 
dition table? (2 Pet. 1 : 5-7.) 

December 18.— Am I " laying down my life " (1 
John 3: 16) for any one? 

December 19.— How closely am I " abiding in the 
teaching of Christ " ? (2 John 9.) 

December 20.— How much am I doing " for the 
sake of the Name " (3 John 7) ? 

December 21— u Without spot or blemish" (Jude 
23,24). 

December 22.— How wonderfully all these evi- 
dences and memorials of Christ and of the early 
church have been preserved for us! 

December 23.— Which of the seven churches am I 
most like? 

For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

December 17— Scan the epistles of Peter for hid- 
den references to his life with Christ, and for 
tokens of his character as disclosed by the 
Gospels. 

119 



DECEMBER 17-23. 

December 18.— Trace the correspondence between 
First John and John's Gospel. 

December 19.— See how much of the thought of 
Second John you can find in First John. 

December 20.— Look up the other persons named 
Gaius or Caius in the New Testament. 

December 21.— Look up the references in the 
Gospels to our Lord's brethren. 

December 22.— Make in your Bible a table of all 
the Epistles, arranging them in their probable 
chronological order. 

December 23.— Study what is known about the 
history of the seven churches, and the fulfil- 
ment of this prediction concerning them. 



120 



DECEMBER 24-31. 



TLbe JFfttg^seconD TKHeeft^ 



Sections for Daily Reading. 

December 24. Rev., chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. The 
seven seals. 

December 25. Rev., chapters 9, 10, 11, 12. The 
seven angels. 

December 26. Rev., chapters 13, 14, 15, 16. The 
seven plagues. 

December 27. Rev., chapters 17, 18, 19. The 
scarlet woman. 

December 28. Rev., chapters 20, 21, 22. The New 
Jerusalem. 

December 29. Review Revelation, marking the 
beginning of each new series of visions. 

December 30. Glance rapidly over the entire New 
Testament, reviewing swiftly the general 
character and purpose of each book. 

December 31. Pass in turn to each of the sixty- 
six books of the Bible, that you may 
gain some impression of all the riches 
with which you have become acquainted 
during the year. 

For Meditation as You Read. 

December 24.— God's holiness (Rev. 4:8). 

December 25.— Christ's eternal reign (Rev. 11: 15). 

December 26.— What kind of death am I preparing 
for myself? (Rev. 14: 13.) 

December 27.— My joy in heaven (Rev. 19: 9). 

December 28.— Am I sure of heaven? 

December 29.— Am I ready for the day when char- 
acter will be fixed forever? (Rev. 22: 11.) 

121 



DECEMBER 24-31. 

December 30.— "The Spirit and the bride say, 
Come." 

December 31.— "Amen ; come, Lord Jesus." 



For Further Study, if You Have Time. 

December 24.— Trace through the Revelation the 
use of the mystic number " seven." 

December 25.— Study the conception of angels 
here and in the other books of the Bible. 

December 26.— Study the references to Babylon 
throughout the Revelation, and their probable 
meaning. 

December 27.— Bring together the descriptions of 
Christ and of God scattered throughout the 
Revelation ; what are their common character- 
istics? 

December 28.— What characteristics of heaven are 
indicated by these glorious symbols of the Reve- 
lation? 

December 29.— What points has the Revelation in 
common with the other writings of John? 

December 30.— Make a list of the books of the 
New Testament in the order of your familiarity 
with them, and then set yourself to becoming 
better acquainted with those less known. 

December 31.— Do the same, afterward, for the 
books of the Old Testament. 



122 



DEC 



1899 



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